Workers should see the return of holiday fund payments

The Department of Trade and Industry's redundancy pay unit has been asked to ensure any employees who contributed to the fund are not left out of pocket.

Many workers feared the money had been lost after it emerged the company had apparently spent their contributions.

Local Labour MP Russell Brown said it now appears the DTI can ensure workers are not financially penalised.

Administrators KPMG have been studying 10 bids for the company from potential buyers.

'Relevant paperwork'

Mr Brown contacted the redundancy pay unit in Edinburgh to see if it could do anything to help workers at the company.

He said he was given an indication it would use its discretion to ensure workers would get their money back quickly.

"My hope is that this will see members receiving back all of their contributions but we will have to wait until KPMG have forwarded all of the relevant paperwork to the DTI for confirmation of this," he said.

"I am, however, much more optimistic than I was last week that there will be a resolution to the holiday fund situation which will see the members not being left out of pocket."