Swinney goes Dutch for Hall’s

Published on 02/10/2012 12:00

Finance Secretary John Swinney and West Lothian Council leader John McGinty have travelled to Holland to hold talks over the future of the closure-threatened Hall’s meat processing plant.

Dutch owners Vion last month turned down an offer from the Scottish Government and the local authority to buy the factory, which employs 1700 people, and lease it back.

After yesterday’s meeting at the company’s headquarters in Eindhoven, Mr Swinney said: “Vion’s senior management used the discussion to explain the wider conditions facing the company and to confirm their commitment to continue to explore options following completion of the consultation exercise.”

Vion announced in July it was consulting on the future of the Broxburn factory, which it said was losing £79,000 a day.