A Tyne Tees Television North East Tonight news special presented by Pam Royle on the shock closure of two of the region’s largest micro-chip manufactures, Siemens at North Tyneside and Fujitsu at Newton Aycliffe in the constituency of Prime Minster Tony Blair. How and why did this happen and what affect will this have on the region’s economy? Title: The Chips are Down In the Tyne Tees Television studio in Newcastle, presenter Pam Royle introduces this special programme on the shock decision...

A Tyne Tees Television North East Tonight news special presented by Pam Royle on the shock closure of two of the region’s largest micro-chip manufactures, Siemens at North Tyneside and Fujitsu at Newton Aycliffe in the constituency of Prime Minster Tony Blair. How and why did this happen and what affect will this have on the region’s economy? Title: The Chips are Down In the Tyne Tees Television studio in Newcastle, presenter Pam Royle introduces this special programme on the shock decision by Japanese microchip maker Fujitsu to close its factory at Newton Aycliffe hard on the heels of the closure of German rivals Siemens decision to close its factory at North Tyneside. The question is asked what effects will these decisions have on families who have lost income and on the region’s economy? Why, asks Pam, is the sun appearing to be setting on the brave new world of the regions sunrise industries? Why has this happened and what can be done by the job losses Pam asks. In his garden Fujitsu worker Keith Stodart playing football with his family, in voiceover reporter Oliver Martlew explains how Keith is putting on a brave face like hundreds of others across the region. Keith is shocked and in disbelief about the decision to close the factory. Over a montage of workers inside the facility wearing protective overalls and masks as they work to produce microchips, Oliver explains that they have been caught up in a worldwide crisis. Title: What Went Wrong? Details are provided on car plants and sunrise industries from the Far East taking over from traditional industries to produce electronics and consumer goods. The first microchip factory to open was Fujitsu in Newton Aycliffe on the 28th November 1991 and over views of the factory being built the Siemens factory at North Tyneside that opened 23rd May 1997 which was hoped to be the ‘biggest chip shop’ in Britain producing memory chips. Over a montage of chips being produced and people at work inside one of their factory’s details are provided on the closure of both these factories directly affecting 1700 people plus hundreds more in support companies. Over images of the banknotes being made in a printers, the Bank of England and pigeon’s details are given on why the factories are closing eventually coming down to twelve multinational companies all trying to expand and dominate the market where there wasn’t enough room. David Manners from Electronic Daily explains that these company were investing for too much of the market share. Over more view of microchip production details are provided on how these companies didn’t anticipate the scale their competitors also were investing in and so the market was flooded meaning the price of chips went down even as demand doubled every year. Over views of their factories details on the specific reasons behind the closure of both Fujitsu and Siemens are provided with Oliver Martlew stating that the microchip industry may just have killed the golden goose that laid the golden eggs with David Manners seeing it as big business operating a tooth-and-claw type capitalism. Title: Picking up the Pieces The exterior of the Siemens factory at North Tyneside, the worlds most advanced microchip plant, but no one wants to buy it. A Fujitsu press conference with Oliver Martlew explaining there is little prospect of that factory finding a buyer. Returning again to David Manner he provides details on why no one wants to but these plant. At a Siemens Job Shop former workers looking over boards of current vacancies with Oliver Martlew explaining a similar centre is being set up by Fujitsu. Ross Forbes Siemens Head of External Relations explains there are 3000 vacancies and it is a testament to the reputation of the people who work for the company that so many companies around the world want to potentially employ these former workers. Working at his computer is Lee Andrews from Solution Recruitment, he explains that the prospects form many former Siemens and Fujitsu employees finding a new job as good especially with transferrable skills such as those working with electric or electronics. However, as workers in protective gear work in a chip factory Lee explains why those core highly trained workers prospects are not so good as their skills are less transferrable and they may need to look for work overseas. Title: The Human Cost A phantom car ride through a new build housing estate in the Winfield area of Darlington. Coming out of their home are the Stodart family again. As they play football in their back garden details are given on their background moving to the town seven-years ago from the Silicon Glen of Scotland with husband working as a Purchasing Manager for Fujitsu. Sitting with Keith is his wife Margaret-Anne and the two talk about how they heard about the factory closure, what life was like working for Fujitsu and Keith’s prospects of finding a new job. They are both resigned to selling up their home and starting a new life somewhere else with Keith also considering changing careers as he doesn’t see a future for microchip manufacturing. As Keith and Margaret-Anne take their two sons for a meal at McDonald’s, Oliver Martlew explains that the couple are prepared to do just about anything to provide for their loved ones and that treat’s like this to McDonald’s will have to become less frequent. Returning to the Tyne Tees studio Pam Royle explains that the Fujitsu factory is in the heart of Prime Minster Tony Blair’s Sedgefield constituency. An exclusive interview follows with Tony Blair conducted by Westminster correspondent Gerry Foley on what the government is doing about the closure. Returning to the studio Pam conducts an interview with John Redwood MP Conservative Trade and Industry Secretary who is critical of the Prime Ministers policy of pursuing economic stability and outlines idea the Conservatives would enact. The discussion is opened up to other in the studio; Davey Hall from the Engineering and Electrical Workers’ Union (AEEU), David Bowles from the Northern Development Company and Dr John Tomaney from Newcastle University who is an expert of regional development. At the end of the discussion Pam brings the programme to a close thanking the viewer for watching. Credit: Presenter Pam Royle Cameras Simon Elphinstone, John McKeown Sound George Joisce, Charles Heath, Julian Brannigan Graphics Dave Richardson Editor John Louvre Production Team Tony Barber, Sue Drummond, Clare Jeffrey, Oliver Martlew, Mark Murray, Christine Stewart-Tilling Political Correspondent Gerry Foley Director Elizabeth Mary Bage Producer Malcolm Herdman Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth End title: Tyne Tees Television © Tyne Tees Television MCMXCVIII