Written question asked by Jake Berry (Conservative) on Monday, 12 March 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 March 2012. It was answered by Mark Prisk (Conservative) on Monday, 19 March 2012 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Advantage West Midlands: Pay

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether any staff employed by the Advantage West Midlands Development Agency received retention bonuses after the announcement by the Government of the abolition of the regional development agencies.

Answer: The eight regional development agencies have put in place arrangements to secure the retention of key staff until the agencies are closed. They have made these arrangements with the approval of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), and HM Treasury. This is to safeguard the taxpayer's interest in making best use of the significant public assets that the regional development agencies have owned. A retention payment process had been recommended to be put into place by the National Audit Office. At Advantage West Midlands to date, no member of staff has received a retention payment.

Secondary information