The government is thought to be close to making a deal with BMW to secure the future of the carmaker’s Longbridge Rover plant.
Stephen Byers, trade and industry secretary, suggested the government was holding on to produce an aid package that would provide good value for the taxpayer. He told BBC TV’s On the Record that it would be “unusual” for the government to provide more than S200m for the Birmingham factory.
He said he was “confident” negotiations would bear fruit “in the near future”.
Financial Times 29/03/99 page 8
The Daily Telegraph 29/03/99 page 9, page 26 (The City Checklist)
The Times 29/03/99 page 45
The Guardian 29/03/99 page 18