BOLTON West MP Ruth Kelly is to meet British Aerospace management this week to seek assurances that the merger of the company with GEC Marconi will not cost jobs at the firm's Lostock missile factory.

She arranged the meeting as staff considered the impact of the deal, which creates one of the world's largest defence firms and gives GEC a major stake in BAe.

Analysts have already expressed the view that some jobs and factories are likely to go.

Ms Kelly wants guarantees from the firm's management over the plant's future.

She told the BEN: "BAe Lostock has been decimated over the last 10 years by job losses so I will be seeking assurances from the management of British Aerospace that this merger will not result in any repercussions.

"I want a guarantee that Lostock still figures highly in their plans."

The move is considered to make BAe stronger in the long term and comes in response to pressure from Defence Secretary George Robertson and his European colleagues for consolidation in the sector to fight off a challenge of giant American conglomerates.

Further moves towards co-operation and merger between BAe and some of its European competitors are likely later this year.

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