as the firm was wound up. Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce President Gary Langlands today said the manufacturing sector had already been going through a tough time when the economic downturn hit.

He said he believed the Scottish Government could have done more to protect jobs at NCR but said the retraction of the manufacturing sector was indicative of a wider global problem.

Mr Langlands said, “We have heard a lot of squawking around from politicians saying they want to make sure through talking to NCR that they can be maybe make money available to reverse this decision.

“The perception of the Chamber of Commerce is that it is probably a little too late for that. Maybe the Scottish Government should have made funds available two years ago when we lost 650 jobs at NCR and that might have made it more difficult for NCR to do what they did yesterday.

“The Scottish Government should learn from this and talk seriously to NCR about making significant financial investment into research and development with the proviso new products that come out of Dundee are manufactured in Dundee for a period of time, maybe 10 years.”

He continued, “As long as we are looking at very low cost production in various parts of the world, it is becoming more and more easy for companies to site their manufacturing in these areas and it is going to be impossible for us to compete.”

UNITE regional officer Fiona Farmer, who has responsibility for members at NCR, said the union would be doing everything in its power to minimise the job losses there and provide a secure platform for those 450 who remain with the firm in Dundee.

She said, “We start formal consultation with the company on Monday.

“That will involve looking at securing the jobs that will remain, minimising the job losses quotes and looking for assistance in redeployment and training so there are job opportunities for those being made redundant.

“We will also be looking at securing a financial severance package for those going as well as looking for Government assistance in investment in skills and training, so when the economic downturn eventually ends there will still be the capacity in Dundee and Scotland in manufacturing to deal with whatever new products and technology are around.

“It is very bleak, but I would not go as far as saying there is no future at all for manufacturing (in Dundee). Research and development is a key area and coming out of that will be new products and new technology. Why should all that R&D be done in this country and production done elsewhere?”

Ms Farmer continued, “We have to explore all possible options and outcomes with all the agencies available. Many workers and employees have been at NCR for a long time and so they may not have much in terms of skills in applying for jobs.

“These are the types of things we will help them with and we will ensure the company also deploys agencies to assist the workforce in that as well.

“It is a very black day for Dundee. NCR is part of Dundee’s history — everybody has a family member who worked at The Cash or knows someone who worked there. NCR is a tradition, it is part of the history of Dundee, but that looks as though it has gone now.”