Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total amount of money paid to the Wakefield training and enterprise council to assist with social and economic regeneration in respect of the pit closure programme; and if she will make a statement. [26273]
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§ Mr. PaiceOver the last three years, over £6 million has been available to Wakefield training and enterprise council as part of the agreed "coal plan" to assist in areas affected by the closures of collieries. Of this, over £4.5 million has been paid directly to the TEC, and the balance has been available to fund allowances to support unemployed adults attending additional training for work provision and organised by the TEC. Other Government funding available to the TEC will also have benefited former mining areas.