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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Job talks on Scottish Power bid | Job talks on Scottish Power bid |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The future of Scottish Power will be discussed when the first minister meets senior figures from the Spanish company seeking to take over the utility firm. | The future of Scottish Power will be discussed when the first minister meets senior figures from the Spanish company seeking to take over the utility firm. |
| It was announced last week that Spanish energy giant Iberdrola had launched a £11.6bn bid for Scottish Power. | It was announced last week that Spanish energy giant Iberdrola had launched a £11.6bn bid for Scottish Power. |
| Jack McConnell and Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen want to seek assurances over jobs from Iberdrola company chiefs. | Jack McConnell and Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen want to seek assurances over jobs from Iberdrola company chiefs. |
| The Scottish National Party will also declare its opposition to the merger. | The Scottish National Party will also declare its opposition to the merger. |
| Iberdrola president Ignacio Sanchez Galan will be holding the talks with politicians in Glasgow. | Iberdrola president Ignacio Sanchez Galan will be holding the talks with politicians in Glasgow. |
| We will be seeking assurances that jobs will be secure, that the company will not be broken up and that a fully functioning HQ will remain here in Scotland Nicola SturgeonSNP Holyrood leader | We will be seeking assurances that jobs will be secure, that the company will not be broken up and that a fully functioning HQ will remain here in Scotland Nicola SturgeonSNP Holyrood leader |
| Mr Galan is meeting executive ministers, SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon, Tory deputy leader and enterprise spokesman Murdo Fraser and Glasgow Conservative MSP Bill Aitken. | Mr Galan is meeting executive ministers, SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon, Tory deputy leader and enterprise spokesman Murdo Fraser and Glasgow Conservative MSP Bill Aitken. |
| Last week Philip Bowman, the chief executive of Scottish Power, told Mr McConnell and Mr Stephen that jobs would not be lost in the Spanish takeover. | Last week Philip Bowman, the chief executive of Scottish Power, told Mr McConnell and Mr Stephen that jobs would not be lost in the Spanish takeover. |
| Mr Bowman also gave them assurances on other issues such as future investment and renewable energy plans. | Mr Bowman also gave them assurances on other issues such as future investment and renewable energy plans. |
| A spokesman for the first minister said: "It makes sense for the first minister and deputy first minister to speak to the Spanish company. | A spokesman for the first minister said: "It makes sense for the first minister and deputy first minister to speak to the Spanish company. |
| Ignacio Sanchez Galan will face scrutiny over the deal | Ignacio Sanchez Galan will face scrutiny over the deal |
| "They will be doing that and seeking similar assurances." | "They will be doing that and seeking similar assurances." |
| Iberdrola has said the takeover would be a positive move for employees and customers and that it would keep Scottish Power's offices in the UK, where it employs about 9,500 people. | Iberdrola has said the takeover would be a positive move for employees and customers and that it would keep Scottish Power's offices in the UK, where it employs about 9,500 people. |
| The company is a major employer in the Cathcart area of Glasgow. | |
| Cathcart MSP Charlie Gordon told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "My main concerns are those of the people who work in Cathcart, some 1,700 of them. | |
| "This is a time of uncertainty for them and I'm looking for reassurances about the future of their jobs. | |
| "The more of us who seek to have these reassurances firmed up, the better position we'll be in to hold the company to account in future if the deal goes through. | |
| "We have to face up to the reality of the situation." | |
| Renewable investment | |
| Scottish Power supplies power to 5.2 million homes and profits for the six months to 30 September jumped 77% to £483m. | Scottish Power supplies power to 5.2 million homes and profits for the six months to 30 September jumped 77% to £483m. |
| Nationalists have previously called for the takeover to be blocked, pending an EU investigation into Spanish tax subsidies. | Nationalists have previously called for the takeover to be blocked, pending an EU investigation into Spanish tax subsidies. |
| Speaking ahead of this morning's meeting Ms Sturgeon said the takeover of Scottish Power was not in Scotland's national interest. | Speaking ahead of this morning's meeting Ms Sturgeon said the takeover of Scottish Power was not in Scotland's national interest. |
| She said: "In particular, we will be seeking assurances that jobs will be secure, that the company will not be broken up and that a fully functioning HQ will remain here in Scotland. | She said: "In particular, we will be seeking assurances that jobs will be secure, that the company will not be broken up and that a fully functioning HQ will remain here in Scotland. |
| "We will also be stressing our view that Iberdrola should continue Scottish Power's investment in renewables and not divert resources into nuclear energy." | "We will also be stressing our view that Iberdrola should continue Scottish Power's investment in renewables and not divert resources into nuclear energy." |