EU pledges "green technology" investment in Essex

6.18.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 14th Jul 2010

The European Union has announced this week plans to invest £450m in Ford's research facility at Dunton in Essex. Chelmsford's Lib Dem Euro MEP Andrew Duff has welcomed the decision, saying: "The UK has been running behind our EU partners in developing green technologies -- and the East of England has been slipping behind other UK regions in this respect too.

"So the European Investment Bank's decision is doubly welcome. Ford's innovative programme is exactly the kind of activity which will create the productive jobs of the future. The EU has made a vote of confidence in Ford and in the East of England which Liberal Democrats very much welcome."

ENDS