HC Deb 18 July 1995 vol 263 cc1018-9W
Mr. Bayley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library copies of all papers which were presented to the British Railways Board and/or the BREL board about the case for establishing the Swindon development agency at the time of closure of the Swindon BREL works, together with the minutes of all the decisions about this matter taken by the British Rail Board and the BREL board. [34660]

Mr. Watts

These are internal management documents of the British Railways Board and are not for disclosure.

Mr. Bayley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when British Rail established the Swindon development agency; how much money has been invested in the agency(a) by BR and (b) from other public sources; how many former BR and BREL employees have been found alternative employment by the agency; and how many jobs for other people in the Swindon area the agency has created. [34453]

Mr. Watts

The information requested is as follows:

established by the British Rail Board of BREL in other towns or the cities affected by railway job losses. [34461]

Mr. Watts

Details are given in the following table:

Name of agency Type of agency when established Investment by BREL Other funding sources How many former BREL employees found employment How many other jobs created
Doncaster Bus Advice Centre now Business Link Doncaster Enterprise agency March 1987 £1.65 million 1 Seconded Railway Manager Survey reveals most pre-retirement former staff gained employment 1,000 jobs to date
Glasgow Street Rollox (STRIDE) Development agency 1988 £1.1 million 3 seconded Railway Managers - -
Derby and Derbyshire Business Venture Enterprise agency April 1988 £1 million £50,000 revenue funding p.a. for 3 years plus 2 seconded Railway Staff 30 businesses Jobs Numbers not available 420 jobs to date
Shildon and Seddgefield Dev Agency (SASDDA) Development agency August 1984 £2 million £50,000 revenue funding p.a. for 3 years from Sedgefield DC plus £25,000 p.a. for 3 years from Shildon Town Council Not specifically identified 400 projects 3,500 new jobs
York Innovation Ltd. Innovation agency 1988 £300,000 Nil Other details unavailable at unavailable at short notice possible 25
Wolverton Employ Project (previously Milton Keynes Manpower Forum) Employ Project November 1986 153,000 Nil 214 1,250