§ 4. Mr. Brian Jenkins (Tamworth)If he will make a statement on progress towards establishing a Defence Diversification Agency. [65527]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. John Spellar)As we foreshadowed in our November White Paper, the Defence Diversification Agency began work last month under its director designate, Joe Can, fulfilling yet another Government manifesto commitment. Officials are currently discussing with the Cabinet Office the appropriate status of the Defence Diversification Council, which will assist in the strategic oversight of the agency's work.
§ Mr. JenkinsI thank my hon. Friend for that answer, that information and that good news. Will the agency work with other groups, and in particular with the new regional development agencies? Will it be tasked with trying to regenerate areas that were formerly dependent on defence work, starting the long programme of regeneration that was so sorely neglected by the previous Government?
§ Mr. SpellarWe very much look forward to working with the regional development agencies, some of which have already started to be very active. Our work can dovetail with theirs, but they have a specific role and specific statutory duties while the agency will spread out the considerable body of scientific and technical knowledge that exists in Government laboratories to ensure that it is used much more widely in the commercial and industrial worlds, to the benefit of both working people and the economy.