Labour Market (Stafford) (Hansard, 25 January 2000)

§ Mr. Kidney
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance his Department makes available to businesses and local government agencies seeking to(a) diversify the labour market in and (b) promote inward investment to Stafford. [106673]

§ Mr. Caborn
Some £280 million European Social Funding under Objective 3 is being made available for training-related activities in the West Midlands. These can be targeted particularly at the disadvantaged in the labour market, including those made redundant or with outdated skills.
My Department provides core funding for the inward investment activities of Advantage West Midlands. AWM works in partnership with InStaffs in Staffordshire and other local agencies to attract new investment from overseas and to support existing businesses.

§ Mr. Kidney
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment he has made of the opportunities for diversification of the labour market in Stafford. [106672]

§ Mr. Caborn
On 17 January I announced a team which will be drawn from local agencies to investigate the problems facing local businesses and communities in Stoke and North Staffordshire.
I am pleased to confirm that I have asked Advantage West Midlands (The Development Agency) to extend this work to include Stafford.
The first meeting of local partners and the team is on 26 January. I have asked for an interim report to be completed by 11 February.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is visiting the West Midlands on 25 February and has asked officials to see if it is possible to include a visit to Stafford in his programme.
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§ Mr. Kidney
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will visit Stafford to meet representatives of local government agencies and businesses to discuss diversification of the labour market in Stafford and promotion of inward investment. [106674]

§ Mr. Caborn
I am always prepared to meet with colleagues to discuss such issues and I recognise the particular problems in Stafford resulting from the recent redundancies announced by Alstom.
My Department provides core funding for the inward investment activities of Advantage West Midlands (The Development Agency). AWM works in partnership with InStaffs in Staffordshire and other local agencies to attract new investment from overseas and to support existing businesses.