YORK MP Hugh Bayley has held talks with Terry's boss John Pollock and union leaders about plans to close the chocolate factory next year.

The MP said after yesterday's meeting at the factory in Bishopthorpe Road that Mr Pollock had explained why Kraft Foods wants to move production to factories in Poland and Sweden.

He said he had been reassured that the company knew its obligations to the workforce, and wanted to be seen to be acting decently and treating the unions, the GMB and Amicus, with "serious respect."

Mr Pollock indicated that he had examined the alternative of moving from Bishopthorpe Road to a purpose-built factory elsewhere in the York area, but rejected that in favour of closure. However, he said he would consult fully with the unions and listen to their proposals for relocation.

The MP said the prospect of losing so much local employment was depressing, but it was reassuring that management and unions were being open with each other.

He said he had asked whether Governmental policy had been to blame for the closure decision, and been told it was not. He added that he had offered to do all he could to assist if the company needed help in finding relocation sites in the York area.

Updated: 09:34 Saturday, April 24, 2004