HC Deb 31 January 1994 vol 236 cc550-1W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contacts his Department plans to have with Ayrshire and Scottish Enterprise, Irvine development corporation and Cunninghame district council concerning the transition of the development corporation's economic powers.

Mr. Stewart

The guidance issued by the Scottish Office Industry Department places the responsibility on the development corporation to prepare successor arrangements for economic development. Corporations are to consult fully the local enterprise company and local authorities about the preparation of proposals appropriate to their area. I understand that local discussions are going on at present between the development corporation and Enterprise Ayrshire. The development corporation is required to submit proposals for consideration by my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the additional costs involved in winding up Irvine development corporation and Livingston development corporation before their original wind-up dates; and if the costs of winding up Irvine and Livingston new towns were accounted for in the Touche Ross report "Structure of Local Government in Scotland: Advice on Financial and Qualitative Appraisal of 'Options for Change—.

Mr. Stewart

I am satisfied that there are no additional costs in bringing forward the winding p dates of Irvine and Livingston development corporations. There will be transfers of resources between new town and local government programmes to reflect the transfer of functions and these will be effective from the dates on which the transfers are made. The Touche Ross report did not examine the costs of winding up the new town development corporations.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff currently employed by Irvine development corporation will be transferred to the bodies taking over the development corporation's economic and housing functions.

Mr. Stewart

Discussions towards establishing successor arrangements for economic development are taking place between Irvine development corporation and Enterprise Ayrshire. I hope that it will be possible to retain the expertise of appropriate staff, but it is for those bodies to make recommendations on this matter as part of the proposals the development corporation is required to submit to my right hon. Friend. In respect of the corporation's housing function, the successor bodies will not be determined until the outcome of the ballots are known. Again, it is too early to say how many staff may transfer.