§ Dr. George TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure equity in distribution of Government funding to the English regional development agencies. [73612]
§ Mr. MealeOver 90 per cent. of the funding for Regional Development Agencies in 1999–2000 will be in respect of the regeneration programmes which they will inherit from the Government Offices for the Regions, English Partnerships and the Rural Development Commission. The distribution of those resources is determined largely by statistical indicators of need.
For later years, resources will be allocated to RDAs in response to the corporate plans which they submit to the Secretary of State. Allocations will take account of the needs of the regions, the soundness of the RDAs' plans for tackling those needs and their performance in implementing their programmes.