I MUST respond to Colin Mortimer’s letter (HAS, March 5) regarding Tony Blair and the Fujitsu plant in Newton Aycliffe.
The reasons for Fujitsu’s closure were global economics.
Fujitsu manufactured a 4Mb chip for home PCs. What was state of the art in 1990 was outdated by 1995. Then, the preferred chip was the 64Mb DRAM but Fujitsu didn’t upgrade the Aycliffe plant to this new technology. Tony Blair ensured that the factory was mothballed not decommissioned, enabling a new owner to be found.
Don’t believe me? I worked there then and I am still there now. A plaque commemorating the reopening of the site by Tony Blair stands in the reception at RFMD UK (formerly Fujitsu) – cheers Tony.
C Kay, Bishop Auckland.
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