Chancellor George Osborne has backed the £250 million plan by Dyson to expand its Malmesbury HQ after being invited to comment by North Wiltshire MP James Gray.

The company - known for its hi-tech vacuum cleaners, hand driers and fans - submitted plans yesterday for the first phase of its £250m expansion.

Eventually the huge development, which was originally unveiled in January, could create 3,000 jobs. 

Speaking during Questions to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Gray said: “Will the Chancellor join me in warmly welcoming this morning’s announcement that Dyson is to invest £250 million in expanding its headquarters in Malmesbury in my constituency and intends to employ 3,000 more people, 2,000 of whom will be high-quality engineers, designers and a large number of apprentices?”

“Does he agree that that is hard evidence that that shrewd operator Sir James Dyson has every possible confidence in the Chancellor’s long-term economic plan?”

Responding, Mr Osborne welcomed Dyson’s announcement, and said that he had previously asked Dyson how to bring commercial success across the country.

He said: “The jobs being created by Dyson at Malmesbury are excellent news.

"Many people will know Dyson’s products, but its facility at Malmesbury, which I have visited, is fantastic.”

“We went to James Dyson to ask how we could replicate some of that success elsewhere in our economy.

"He came forward with proposals—which became our innovation and catapult centres—to bring applied science to commercial success.

"We are building on the success of Dyson, not just for the people of North Wiltshire, but for the whole country.”