LABOUR MSP Neil Bibby has pressed the Scottish Government in parliament on the need for investment on jobs in Inverclyde after the closure of the EE call centre in Greenock was announced.

Mr Bibby asked the work minister Gillian Martin what discussions she has had with the BT Group/EE regarding the proposed move.

The minister stated that she had written to BT bosses to express her concerns over the decision.

EE's move to take the 450 local jobs up to Glasgow means over 1,000 posts have been shed in the area over the last year alone.

Mr Bibby said: “The closure of the EE call centre would be a massive blow to the local economy, particularly following the scale of job losses we have already seen locally over the past twelve months.

“It is vital that the Scottish Government uses every avenue possible to convince EE that remaining in Greenock is the right option.

“We need government action to prevent jobs leaving the area and we need government investment to bring jobs to the area.

“The Inverclyde Taskforce have worked tirelessly to improve the future of the region but without the vital support of the Scottish Government, they will not have the opportunity to do so.

“The Scottish Government must tell us if they won’t invest now in Inverclyde’s economy now, when will they?”