Doing the business

Is British manufacturing in difficulty, as seen in the case of MG Rover's collapse this month, or in fact in a healthy condition - as seen by Honda's continued success?

Mike Evemy (Lib Dem)

"The share of the British economy devoted to manufacturing is in continual decline. Honda's success is a tribute to the skills and knowledge of its employees. Those firms that are successful are typically producing high quality precision goods which require the technical skills available in Britain. We will need to continually improve the knowledge and skills of our workforce."

Andy Newman (Socialist Unity)

"I work in engineering, and the jobs situation is dire. Locally we have seen Dyson and Motorola take thousands of manufacturing jobs to the Far East to benefit from lower wages. Britain provides less legal protection for jobs than our European competitors. Compare us with France where there are 19 car factories and two world class motor manufacturers.

"Rover should be nationalised to preserve the skills base and should develop low emissions vehicles to cut pollution."

Robin Tingey (UKIP)

"British manufacturing jobs are in decline, however, not many manufacturing companies in Britain are going the same way as MG Rover. EU rules limit the amount of help our government could give MG Rover. In order to remain competitive, companies are using greater automation and moving work to countries with cheap labour. We have to stay ahead with investment in skills and technology.

"The CBI say government spending should stay below 40 per cent of GDP. The high tax policies of the Lib Dems would result in a shrinking economy."

Ernie Reynolds (Ind)

"British manufacturing's worth is consistently proven by skills, inventiveness, organisation, history. The ground is too often taken from under its feet by financial considerations and advantage afforded to its rivals."

Justin Tomlinson (Con)

"Yes. Since 1997, one million manufacturing jobs have been lost. What has happened to Rover will be of great concern to many local residents who not only work directly for the car manufacturing industry, but also for companies in the supply chain. Increased red tape and higher taxes are destroying businesses ability to compete in a global marketing."

Michael Wills (Lab)

"Many manufacturers, such as Honda, are thriving. MG Rover was a special case. But all manufacturers face challenges from global competitors, such as China and India. To succeed, manufacturing needs the economic stability and investment in science delivered by Labour."

We already have several nationally and internationally excellent companies in Swindon. How would you attract more, and what types of firm should the town be looking to encourage in? What qualities in people, managers and skills would attract such firms?

Mike Evemy (Lib Dem)

"I would work to sell the benefits of Swindon to companies considering relocation. We should be seeking to balance our economy, so we offer a broad range of opportunities and are better able to weather any future economic downturn.

Firms will be looking for employees who are well-educated, highly skilled, flexible and hard-working."

Andy Newman (Socialist Unity)

"It is no benefit to the people of Swindon to attract new companies if the workforce will drive here from outside town, or if it forces more housing developments like the Coate scheme. We need jobs that match the skills of Swindon's existing population."

Robin Tingey (UKIP), pictured below right

"Swindon has to remain a pleasant place to live. I don't want Swindon to end up huge with new buildings where there used to be green areas and a neglected core of disused buildings."

Ernie Reynolds (Ind)

"It seems sad that the excellent companies we have and have had nationally have relocated to satisfy a profit motive. To attract and complement those excellent companies that remain in Swindon and district, we should ensure that education, skills training, administration and management competence programmes are in place. Then the sort of companies we want would be queuing up to locate and the choice would be ours."

Justin Tomlinson (Con)

"As an MP, I shall work extremely hard as an ambassador for Swindon. I would work with big and small businesses, bringing them together with local bodies such as the council. We need to encourage a broad range of businesses to come to Swindon, catering for the skills of the local workforce. We should also focus on existing local businesses, and help them to develop."

Michael Wills (Lab)

"Swindon must continue to encourage high skill, high value added firms that will guarantee future prosperity. To do that, we must continue to provide an attractive environment for employees and a skilled workforce for employers. And regenerating the town centre and securing the University of Bath's expansion in Swindon will be key in delivering this."

How can we tackle the pensions deficit? Can and would you legislate to get people to save?

Mike Evemy (Lib Dem)

"This is one of the biggest challenges facing our society. As people live longer, want to retire earlier and have fewer children, pension schemes have increasing difficulty meeting their obligations. Liberal Democrats will deliver a decent state pension, starting with the over 75s. It will be funded from a 50 per cent income tax rate on earnings over £100,000."

Andy Newman (Socialist Unity)

"I back the Pensioners' Convention demand of an immediate increase to £105 for the state pension; and within five years a rise to £160 single and £320 for a couple. This can be easily paid for by taxing the rich: a tax rate of 60 per cent for earnings over £60,000, and a rate of 80 per cent earnings over £100,000, which affects only one per cent of the population."

Robin Tingey (UKIP)

"Britain's pensions deficit is no where near as bad as some European countries where many governments have not put any money aside for state pensions but instead are paying the pensions out of today's taxes.

"Monetary union would mean sharing these problems. UKIP will restore the tax exemption of private pension schemes and raise state pensions by £25 per week."

Ernie Reynolds (Ind)

"There should not be an issue of monetary pensions. Everyone should have the assurance of a share in the abundant future that a money-free society would generate, with freedom of choice."

Justin Tomlinson (Con)

"We are facing a pensions time bomb. The Conservatives will encourage people to invest in pensions by giving an additional £10 per £100 saved. It is by encouraging people to save, that we can rebuild our pensions system that has been ruined by Labour."

Michael Wills (Lab)

"By building on measures Labour has taken to create the State Second Pension to help carers, low earners and disabled people, and the Pension Protection Fund and on the work of the Pension Commission, reporting later this year, discussing, among other things the case for compulsory saving, in forging a national consensus on how to create a new pension system."

How would you help Swindon's town centre regeneration? What is the most important aspect of the regeneration plans for you?

Mike Evemy (Lib Dem)

"As a Swindon MP and long-serving councillor, I would be in a very strong position to assist the town centre regeneration process. I would work to ensure Swindon has a town centre of which it can be proud. The most important aspect would be the development of a university in a town centre location as the catalyst for the re-invigoration of central Swindon."

Andy Newman (Socialist Unity)

"I like Swindon the way it is. But there should be a town centre university campus, and we should build council houses on brown field sites, like the now vacant Courts building."

Robin Tingey (UKIP)

"I wish more local people would take an interest in Swindon Borough Council elections. UKIP will dissolve the South West Regional Assembly that wants our town to take an additional 24,000 houses. We are the only party that can stop unlimited EU immigration and the resulting need for more houses. UKIP will give more power to local authorities."

Ernie Reynolds (Ind)

"I know little of the regeneration plans but over 30 years of living here I have seen regeneration degenerate because of self-interest and a hotchpotch of business investments come and go and leave Swindon tatty with no sense of involvement or pride.

We could make Swindon the jewel in the crown of the west, a beacon to all, but I am not holding my breath,"

Justin Tomlinson (Con)

"I am extremely keen to see town centre regeneration. The quality and diversity of shops is crucial. To give Swindon more character, and therefore attract shoppers, we must support and protect the smaller, independent shops. As a local resident who relies on Swindon town centre, I will be a strong voice to make sure we get what is best for local residents, not the development companies."

Michael Wills (Lab), pictured left

"I persuaded the Government to create the New Swindon Company to regenerate the town centre and I will continue to support its work. The new town centre must be a mixed community of residential and retail and leisure properties, with affordable housing for the people of Swindon offering an attractive and culturally vibrant environment for all Swindonians."

The biggest bugbear reported by business is 'red tape'. Can the burden be reduced - or is red tape what stops crises such as a British version of Enron? Give examples.

Mike Evemy (Lib Dem)

"It can be reduced significantly. Liberal Democrats will ensure no new regulation is passed until a full assessment of its impact has been published and a 'sunset' clause, where an expiry date applies, is included. We will replace most inspection visits by one all-purpose inspection. Some regulations, accounting and health and safety rules for example, are necessary, but many are not."

Andy Newman (Socialist Unity)

"The biggest problem is not 'red tape', but low wages, job insecurity, arrogant managers, poor health and safety and inadequate training. We should abolish all the Tory anti trade union laws, and allow unions to effectively defend their members. Companies should get tax breaks for running proper apprenticeship schemes."

Robin Tingey (UKIP)

"In 1993, 205 slaughterhouses shut due to complex hygiene regulations even though there were no hygiene problems. By leaving the European Union, regulations can be slashed. The Tories' plan to tackle 'gold plating' is the wrong way to legislate and would have no impact on the core content of directives."

Ernie Reynolds (Ind)

"Most red tape requirements are formulated with an eye to taxation. Without money Enron could not have happened."

Justin Tomlinson (Con)

"Yes it can. We will focus upon removing superfluous regulations, preventing the 'gold plating' of EU regulations by Whitehall.

"We will introduce sunset clauses to regulations wherever possible, and will grant exemptions to small businesses such as care homes.

"The new Money Laundering Rules are a useful tool in the fight against crime but are causing chaos for many reputable businesses."

Michael Wills (Lab)

"Red tape can and must be reduced. I was responsible for reducing an arbitrary burden of compliance for the smallest firms which saved them an average of £1,000 a year.

"Under Labour, it now takes an average of one day and £85 to set up a business. In the rest of the EU, it takes an average of 11 weeks and £1,000.

"But some regulation is necessary to protect employees, consumers and investors. Who would quarrel with the need for food safety regulations?"