While noting the Scottish Executive has already taken action, Mr Blair pledged to meet Mr McGovern to see if more can be done.

Mr McGovern said in the Commons, “On Thursday, after three months of refusing to talk to trade unions, local elected officials and, most importantly, the workforce, NCR announced the loss of 650 jobs in Dundee.

“They did so in the most callous way possible, by gathering the 800 staff in a room and letting them know by video-link from American on a large screen TV.

“Would the Prime Minister join with me in reassuring the people of Dundee as to this Government’s commitment to full employment and high quality jobs in Dundee?

“Will he meet with me to discuss ways in which we can act to provide this reassurance and help the people of Dundee get through this, and reassure the people of Dundee as to the Government’s commitment to full employment and high quality jobs, including the 700 still remaining at NCR.”

In response, Mr Blair expressed his sympathy with the people who had lost their jobs and said he understood the Scottish Executive was already putting into place action plans to help people.

He agreed to meet Mr McGovern to discuss these issues in more detail, and pointed out that in the past few years the Government have developed good programmes to help deal with these situations.

The Prime Minister said he would be “happy” to discuss these with Mr McGovern to see what more could be done.

Speaking afterwards, Mr McGovern said he was pleased with the response from the Labour leader.

“It was important to take the opportunity afforded to me to express the real disappointment felt by the people of Dundee at the way NCR dealt with this matter,” he said.

“To make people redundant on a big screen was not the way modern employment relations should be carried out.

“However, it was also very important that we look to the future. The Rapid Response Team is looking at ways it can retrain these staff and attract other businesses to the area.

“This work is very important and any support we can get from central government would be another boost to it.”