Swinney vow after lens firm's closure

FINANCE Secretary John Swinney has pledged to help the West Lothian economy following the loss of 500 jobs with the closure of the Bausch & Lomb contact lens plant in Livingston.

He said the Scottish Government "deeply regretted" the closure of a factory which was highly efficient and performed "exceptionally well".

And he told the Scottish Parliament: "Employees have every right to be left bewildered by the decision of a company to which they had given great commitment and loyalty."

He said talks about possible future research and development work by the company in Scotland were continuing.

Mr Swinney said: "The government is making every effort to find ways in which we can support the development of new employment opportunities in West Lothian."

He was responding to a member's debate in the parliament, sponsored by SNP Livingston MSP Angela Constance, who said Bausch & Lomb's decision to transfer manufacturing to Ireland was "a real injustice".

Linlithgow Labour MSP Mary Mulligan said: "The closure of Bausch & Lomb is a kick in the teeth for employees who have shown nothing but dedication and professionalism in their work."

And Lothians Labour MSP George Foulkes said the decision by Bausch & Lomb to close the Livingston plant was "misguided". He said: "The slow death of the operation, as each production line is closed one after the other, is going to be a real torture for the workforce."