UK minister confident about Vauxhall future

By AP

LONDON (AP) – LONDON (AP) - Britain's business minister says he is confident that Vauxhall, the British unit of General Motors Corp., will remain in business under a new owner.

Although Business Secretary Peter Mandelson says he expects some job losses, he told the British Broadcasting Corp. Thursday that bidders for GM's European operations have assured him they would continue to produce Vauxhall vehicles in Europe.

However, Tony Woodley, the joint general secretary of the United unions, is unhappy that Britain appears sidelined as Germany's government negotiates with the two bidders.

He says it is crucial that Britain be present when decisions are made about ownership and the future of GM Europe, and that Britain must help Vauxhall with money, as Germany is prepared to do for GM's Opel.