Constituents contact me regularly with concerns about Pearson Engineering on Scotswood Road.
I have visited Pearson Engineering on multiple occasions, and maintain contact via regular correspondence to raise issues with the CEO of Pearson Engineering.
Their latest letter to me states:
“Pearson Engineering primarily makes equipment to detect and move mines and
to overcome obstacles in areas affected by conflict. All defence equipment is manufactured for use in the UK and Allied countries.
“Pearson Engineering is a UK company, and all our exports are fully licensed and regulated by the UK Government, as confirmed in the Secretary of State for Business and Trade’s letter to Newcastle Council on 16 January.
In his letter, it outlined that the UK operates one of the most robust and transparent export control regimes in the world – something that Pearson Engineering supports and abides by in the strongest terms.
“Pearson Engineering has not sought, nor been granted, a licence for export of controlled items to Israel, and we have not used an open licence for such purposes. Let me also be clear that no Pearson Engineering equipment is in service with the Israel Defence Forces.
“The business will continue to operate in line with UK Government regulations and in particular any ‘end-user’ restrictions that might be in force.
“In regard to our investment and contribution to regional and national growth, I can confirm that in2025, we spent £67mn in our supply chain – 70% of which was in the UK and 42% of that was within a 50-mile radius of our Newcastle factory. We currently support over 400 skilled jobs at Armstrong Works and heavily invest in skills training for our workforce and through local educational institutions across Newcastle and the Northeast.”