MEP 'will raise' Wedgwood issue

The company, founded in 1759, went into administration in January

An MEP says he will raise the hole in the pension fund of pottery firm Waterford Wedgwood with the government.

In a report on the Staffordshire firm's funds administrators Deloitte has said there was an estimated pension fund deficit of £2.238m.

West Midlands Labour MEP Michael Cashman stated the Prime Minister has said "we have to do everything we can".

Waterford Wedgwood, now owned by a US private equity firm, has said almost 1,400 jobs in the UK will be saved.

'Support people'

On Thursday KPS Capital Partners sealed the deal to buy the iconic but debt-laden company, which makes Wedgwood pottery and Waterford crystal.

Mr Cashman added: "I'll raise it with colleagues at the Treasury as well as the Department (for Work) and Pensions.

"As Gordon Brown has said, we have to do everything we can, everything possible to support people at this time of need."

About 1,396 jobs will be saved in the new company, known as WWRD Holdings, Deloitte has said.

On Friday Tom D Wedgwood, eighth generation ancestor of founder Josiah Wedgwood, said: "The Wedgwood family would like to make it very clear that it does not support any plan that moves manufacturing of Wedgwood from Barlaston to Indonesia."

It is not yet known what will happen to the firm's UK production. There have been fears it could be moved to Indonesia.

The company, founded in 1759, went into administration in January.

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