Local MP Nick Ainger has called on UK contracting companies to bid for construction work at the UK's biggest gas fired power station, being built at Pembroke.

In Welsh Question Time last week, the former union branch secretary told the Commons that up to 2,000 construction jobs would be created and West Wales firm Dawnus had already started on the site.

He said: "We need to encourage Welsh and UK contractors to bid for work to maximise the number of jobs for local and UK workers."

He later said: "I met with Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, NPower and the main contractor Alstom two days before my question in the House. The companies emphasised the need for UK contractors to tender for work on the site. When UK contractors win contracts, they employ UK workers. They only recruit continental labour when no UK workers are available.

"The problems on other sites have stemmed from UK firms failing to win tenders and continental companies taking on the work and bringing in their own labour. We can avoid that at Pembroke if UK contractors make serious bids.

"Dawnus, a West Wales firm, employing local labour, has shown the way. Other UK firms should follow their lead. That way we will get the maximum local benefit out of this £1 billion project."