Salmond hints sale of Hall's is best hope for its workers

FIRST Minister Alex Salmond hinted at the possible sale of the closure-threatened Hall's of Broxburn that could save at least some of the 1700 jobs under threat.

Mr Salmond gave "strong indications" during a two-hour visit with management and union representatives at the West Lothian plant that a sale of some of its operations was the best hope for workers.

The Herald understands the First Minister also sought detailed statistics about how the business, owned by Dutch firm Vion, could have operated with losses of nearly £80,000 a day – despite Scottish Government grants worth about £2 million being offered last year as it moved to expand and take on 250 new apprentices.

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