MG Rover workers receive ?20m

Thousands of workers who lost their jobs following the collapse of MG Rover have received redundancy payments totalling more than £20m, the government announced yesterday. The payments, averaging £5,000 per worker, have been speeded up to help those hit by the crisis.

Patricia Hewitt, the trade and industry secretary, said that about 4,000 of the former Longbridge employees had received redundancy pay.

The workers had complained that they would only receive a maximum of £3,300, but Ms Hewitt said average redundancy payouts had been higher. The money is the statutory payment given to workers made redundant and will ultimately be paid by the taxpayer.

Ms Hewitt said everyone who had put in a claim had received money.

The payout is part of the £150m package of support pledged by the government to help the MG Rover workers find new jobs.