HC Deb 28 November 2001 vol 375 cc954-5
4. Mr. Bob Blizzard (Waveney)

If he will make a statement on the work of the regional co-ordination unit. [15972]

The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Mrs. Barbara Roche)

In particular, the work of the regional co-ordination unit is achieving better scrutiny of proposals for new area-based initiatives and the review of existing ones.

Mr. Blizzard

When my hon. Friend tries to co-ordinate the work of regional public bodies in the eastern region, will she examine the East of England Inward Investment Agency, which was set up by the previous Government? Will she consider the serious under-performance of that organisation and its failure to attract any inward investment to those parts of the region that need it? Why are we spending public money supposedly attracting firms to places where they would go anyway? Is that not rather like giving grants to people to sell ice creams on a hot day?

Mrs. Roche

I know that the agency is targeting potential investors in the oil, gas and renewable energy sector, but I will certainly consider the points that my hon. Friend raises. He might also like to know that a seminar organised by Business Link Suffolk, which involves the Government office, is taking place shortly. It will also involve a number of local businesses. I am sure that my hon. Friend's interest in that matter will be greatly appreciated.

Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend, East)

Will the Minister establish whether the unit was consulted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the distribution, as from Friday, of the exemption from stamp duty of 4,000 deprived wards in the United Kingdom? Will she also try to discover—this has astonished us in Southend—why the Milton ward, to which the Minister made an excellent visit, is not covered by those regulations, bearing in mind that it is more deprived than almost any other area of England or Wales?

Mrs. Roche

I know of the great interest that the hon. Gentleman has in deprivation, in particular how we can get help to the most deprived wards in the country. I am grateful to him for his remarks on my visit, which I greatly enjoyed. I will certainly consider the issue and bring it to the attention of my right hon. and hon. Friends across the Government.

Joyce Quin (Gateshead, East and Washington, West)

Can my hon. Friend assure me that the regional co-ordination unit and her Department in general will work closely with regional development agencies in the run-up to the publication of the promised White Paper on regional government? Although regional government involves more than just economic development, does she agree that it will be essential for the RDAs to be at the heart of such governments when they are established?

Mrs. Roche

I can give my right hon. Friend that assurance. I have made a number of regional visits, as has my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, to discuss that subject. We have met representatives of the Assemblies and the RDAs It is clear that a great deal of good work is being undertaken on economic regeneration.