Rising oil prices could spell disaster for UK glassmakers, unless the Government takes steps to ease the problems facing the industry, ministers were told at talks on 22 August, 2004. Bureaucracy, strict emission limits and steeply rising costs have been blamed for industry cuts, resulting in the loss of 36,000 manufacturing jobs in 2004. David Workman, DG of British Glass, met officials at the DTI in a bid to secure the survival of the UK glass industry. He warned that high oil prices and environmental charges are threatening the viability of the sector. Concerns were also raised that firms will have to dramatically cut investment and possibly jobs to cope with crippling energy costs. Mr Workman said that glassmakers wanted to know what the Government's strategy was on energy generally, and particularly in relation to business.
