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MPs to quiz Burberry over closure MPs to quiz Burberry over closure
(about 1 hour later)
An influential Commons committee has agreed to summon Burberry bosses to discuss plans to close the company's factory in Treorchy.An influential Commons committee has agreed to summon Burberry bosses to discuss plans to close the company's factory in Treorchy.
The Welsh Affairs Select Committee will quiz Burberry managers as part of the its inquiry into globalisation. The Welsh Affairs Select Committee wants to quiz Burberry managers as part of its inquiry into globalisation.
About 300 jobs will go when the firm closes the plant in March and moves its polo shirt production to China. It says the site is not "commercially viable".About 300 jobs will go when the firm closes the plant in March and moves its polo shirt production to China. It says the site is not "commercially viable".
The closure will go ahead despite a long campaign to save the factory.The closure will go ahead despite a long campaign to save the factory.
No date has been fixed for the meeting between MPs and Burberry managers as the company has yet to be approached by committee officials.No date has been fixed for the meeting between MPs and Burberry managers as the company has yet to be approached by committee officials.
The company announced in September last year that it was looking at proposals to move production abroad. A consultation period on the move ended last week.The company announced in September last year that it was looking at proposals to move production abroad. A consultation period on the move ended last week.
The MPs' intention to grill senior executives of the company emerged last month in a letter from committee chairman Hywel Francis to Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews.The MPs' intention to grill senior executives of the company emerged last month in a letter from committee chairman Hywel Francis to Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews.
Emma Thompson is the latest star to back Burberry factory workersEmma Thompson is the latest star to back Burberry factory workers
Mr Andrews and the area's MP, Chris Bryant, have been working with the GMB union in the anti-closure fight.Mr Andrews and the area's MP, Chris Bryant, have been working with the GMB union in the anti-closure fight.
Workers picketed Burberry's flagship stores in New Bond Street and Regent Street in October.Workers picketed Burberry's flagship stores in New Bond Street and Regent Street in October.
Double Oscar winner Emma Thompson has become the latest celebrity to back the campaign.Double Oscar winner Emma Thompson has become the latest celebrity to back the campaign.
The star of Sense and Sensibility and Howard's End joins fellow actors Rhys Ifans, Ioan Gruffudd and opera star Bryn Terfel in criticising the firm to ending its production in Wales.The star of Sense and Sensibility and Howard's End joins fellow actors Rhys Ifans, Ioan Gruffudd and opera star Bryn Terfel in criticising the firm to ending its production in Wales.
'Unethical''Unethical'
In a statement, Ms Thompson warned that Burberry would appear "inauthentic" if it exported jobs abroad.In a statement, Ms Thompson warned that Burberry would appear "inauthentic" if it exported jobs abroad.
In a statement, she said: "When I buy clothes, I always check to see where they are made.In a statement, she said: "When I buy clothes, I always check to see where they are made.
"When an item that is so clearly branded as British (to the core) is ''Made in China', I'm afraid that I often put that article straight back, suspecting corporate greed and unacceptably low wage packets for the producers of that article."When an item that is so clearly branded as British (to the core) is ''Made in China', I'm afraid that I often put that article straight back, suspecting corporate greed and unacceptably low wage packets for the producers of that article.
"Burberry should not make this move - it will brand itself as greedy, unethical and - perhaps most importantly for the profile of the company - inauthentic.""Burberry should not make this move - it will brand itself as greedy, unethical and - perhaps most importantly for the profile of the company - inauthentic."
The workers from the Treorchy factory currently make up a third of Burberry's 900-strong manufacturing workforce in Britain.The workers from the Treorchy factory currently make up a third of Burberry's 900-strong manufacturing workforce in Britain.
Burberry has since said it does not intend to abandon the UK and has offered Welsh staff work at its site in Yorkshire.Burberry has since said it does not intend to abandon the UK and has offered Welsh staff work at its site in Yorkshire.
A spokesman for Burberry said: "We are proud to retain a strong manufacturing capability in the UK. We make our iconic trench coats in Yorkshire and have no plans to change this."A spokesman for Burberry said: "We are proud to retain a strong manufacturing capability in the UK. We make our iconic trench coats in Yorkshire and have no plans to change this."