WHAT HAPPENED ON 21st January 1997?

20th January 1997

EUROTUNNEL OPTIMISTIC THIS YEAR

Troubled Chunnel operator Eurotunnel says November's tunnel fire was just an "interruption" in its growth prospects. Despite a massive loss of revenue in the last seven weeks turnover leapt by 62% in 1996 up from £300m & beating its 50% growth target. The amount of passengers travelling through the tunnel rose to 13m last year compared to 8m in 1995. The company says the total cost of the fire including loss of revenue & repairs was around £200m.

21st January 1997

NEW CAR LEADS TO JOBS BOOST ACROSS UK

Japanese car maker Nissan has decide to build a new model saloon in this country creating thousands of jobs. The company is creating 800 jobs at its Sunderland plant & an extra 2 700 at component factories around the country. The chief executive of Nissan UK Ian Gisbon said it was a vote of confidence in the UK workforce. Nissan is investing £215m at the site in Sunderland to gear up for the new car due to begin production in 2000.

21st January 1997

TRIPLEX RAISES STAKES IN BID FOR COOK

Triplex Lloyd has raised its cash-and- paper bid for William Cook from 309p to 400.7p-a-share - valuing the castings group at around £74.8m. The increased & final offer is on the basis of 21 new Triplex shares & #37.40 cash for every 20 Cook shares. Cook shareholders are also offered a 383.4p cash alternative plus a shared election & loan note alternative. William Cook later rejected the revised terms saying they still "massively undervalued" the company.

20th January 1997

With reference to recent points about

teachers & early retirement. There are other people who retire early such as firemen police servicemen & nurses. Many of their jobs are stressful too. Too many teachers opt out because of "stress" but soon recover to return to teaching as well-paid supply teachers. Eirwyn Weddall Johnston

21st January 1997

NEW CAR LEADS TO JOBS BOOST ACROSS UK

Japanese car maker Nissan has decide to build a new model saloon in this country creating thousands of jobs. The company is creating 800 jobs at its Sunderland plant & an extra 2 700 at component factories around the country. The chief executive of Nissan UK Ian Gisbon said it was a vote of confidence in the UK workforce. Nissan is investing £215m at the site in Sunderland to gear up for the new car due to begin production in 2000.

21st January 1997

MINIMUM WAGE DESTROYS JOBS ` HESELTINE

Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine has attacked a report by business leaders which supports a minimum wage and the EU Social Chapter. Mr Heseltine said a minimum wage set at any meaningful level would destroy jobs & investment. The Social Chapter was about getting Britain to accept additional costs to stop jobs coming here he added. The report's authors were a "front for the Labour party" he added.

20th January 1997

NHS TRUSTS IN DEFICIT CLAIMS LABOUR MP

The Department of Health has been warned by 98 NHS trusts that they will be in deficit at the end of the current financial year says a Labour MP. Hugh Bayley who serves on the Commons Health Select Committee says their second quarter returns forecast a record £78m of debt & unpaid bills. "These shocking figures reveal that the NHS financial crisis is now affecting almost 100 hospitals " said Mr Bayley. "You cannot trust the Tories " he added

21st January 1997

NEW CAR LEADS TO JOBS BOOST ACROSS UK

Japanese car maker Nissan has decide to build a new model saloon in this country creating thousands of jobs. The company is creating 800 jobs at its Sunderland plant & an extra 2 700 at component factories around the country. The chief executive of Nissan UK Ian Gisbon said it was a vote of confidence in the UK workforce. Nissan is investing £215m at the site in Sunderland to gear up for the new car due to begin production in 2000.

21st January 1997

LABOUR OFFERS "NEW DEAL" FOR BUSINESS

Labour leader Tony Blair has promised to work closely with business if he wins power at the General Election. Changes made by the Tories in the 1980s to industrial relations & business enterprise would not be reversed. He said: "The Labour Party ` New Labour ` is a changed political party. We have taken our traditional principles...and applied them afresh." Mr Blair said he would appoint a body to investigate abuse of business power.

20th January 1997

UK WEATHER FORECAST FROM 20 Jan

21st January 1997

NEW CAR LEADS TO JOBS BOOST ACROSS UK

Japanese car maker Nissan has decide to build a new model saloon in this country creating thousands of jobs. The company is creating 800 jobs at its Sunderland plant & an extra 2 700 at component factories around the country. The chief executive of Nissan UK Ian Gisbon said it was a vote of confidence in the UK workforce. Nissan is investing £215m at the site in Sunderland to gear up for the new car due to begin production in 2000.

21st January 1997

PROFITS WARNING HITS 600 GROUP

Engineer 600 Group has warned that current year profits are unlikely to meet market expectations - though they should still be up on last year. The group blamed weakness in UK demand for machine tools in the summer which continued into the last quarter of 1996 Its effect was compounded by excess stock levels. Although these had been considerably reduced the company did not expect to recover until next year.