§ Mr. Coombsasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the British Rail Engineering Limited site in Swindon.
§ Mr. David MitchellBritish Rail Engineering Limited has confirmed that most of its Swindon works will close from March 1986. BREL has commissioned consultants to advise on the scope for developments on the works site. BREL is also taking steps to encourage creation of new jobs, and has made available a £1.25 million package of grants and loan guarantees. I very much welcome BREL's initiatives and I have urged the Thamesdown borough council and the workforce to look to the future and to start working with BREL on creating new jobs.