CHANCELLOR Gordon Brown has declared his commitment to ensuring a long-term future for Ellesmere Port's Vauxhall plant.

His pledge came during Treasury questions in the House of Commons.

There is concern that massive damage could be done to the borough and the entire region if the plant does not beat off stiff competition from GM's other European factories to win the contract to build the next generation Astra.

Borough MP Andrew Miller had told the House: 'The average earnings in my constituency would fall if Vauxhall Motors were to close.

'Will he assure me that he will continue to do everything possible to en-sure that future investment from General Motors comes to the UK?'

The Chancellor replied: 'I visited the plant, where the workers have made enormous advances in productivity.

'One of the reasons why we can say that we can help both the plant and the region is the investment that we are making in education and training.

'That is one reason why we will spend £674 billion in 2010 on public services.'

Last week the Commons Trade and Industry Select Committee published a report entitled Success and failure in the UK car manufacturing industry based on evidence it collected as a result of last year's announcement of 900 redundancies at the Ellesmere Port car plant.

The report concludes the car industry is not 'doomed', but demands extra industry and Government effort to boost 'lean manufacturing techniques'.

Mr Miller said: 'Many of the issues reported on have actually been addressed during discussions with Vauxhall's over the last few months.

'I am confident that the bid submitted to General Motors for the new Astra is extremely strong and that the management, workforce and trade unions have made huge strides.'

He added: 'Gordon Brown has been instrumental in helping to promote the bid in the strongest possible terms and I am optimistic that the Ellesmere Port plant has a real future.'