HC Deb 01 November 1999 vol 337 cc5-7W
Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to hold referendums on the introduction of elected regional government in England. [95978]

Ms Beverley Hughes

We have made clear that, in time, we will allow the people to decide whether they want directly elected regional government in England, but we have not yet set a timetable for holding referendums.

Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what have been the set-up costs to date of the regional chambers; and from what sources they have been met. [95977]

Ms Beverley Hughes

The set-up costs of the voluntary regional chambers are a matter for their members. The Government have provided some support in-kind. In the East Midlands, a member of the Government Office staff was seconded to assist with start up arrangements and in the South East the Government Office has provided office space to the chamber.

Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many regional chambers have been recognised as such under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998. [95979]

Ms Beverley Hughes

We have designated regional chambers under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 in all eight English regions outside London (where separate arrangements will apply).

Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list, by English region (i) the number of full-time equivalent staff employed and (ii) the annual budget for the current year and next year, for each(a) Government office, (b) regional development agency, (c) regional chamber, as designated under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 and (d) local government-based regional body which is not a Government office, regional development agency or designated regional chamber. [96006]

Ms Beverley Hughes

[holding answer 29 October 1999]: (a) Full-time equivalent staff in each Government Office, as at 1 October 1999, along with the running costs budgets (in £000s) for the current financial year, are in the table. The budgets have not yet been agreed for next year. The Government Offices' Central Unit's budget is included as some funds are held centrally.

Government office Staff Running costs for 1999–2000
GO-NE 227 8,219.57
GO-NW 348 12,753.60
GO-YH 230 8,632.55
GO-WM 219 9,110.85
GO-EM 203 6,855.04
GO-E 156 6,662.32
GO-SE 281 8,425.80
GO-SW 198 7,611.84
GO-L 336 13,665.43
Sub total 2,198 81,937.00
GO-CU 25 3,756.58
Total 2,223 85,693.58

(b) Full-time equivalent staff in the Regional Development Agencies, as at 1 April 1999 (the most recent figures available) and administration budgets for this year and next (in £000s) are as follows:

Regional Development Agency Staff 1999–2000 2000–2001
One North East 203 9,771 9,493
North West 1821 12,131 11,933
Yorkshire Forward 174.5 8,036 7,852

Regional Development Agency Staff 1999–2000– 2000–2001
Advantage West Midlands 118.5 7,678 7,509
East Midlands 107 7,155 6,988
East of England 38 4,803 4,649
South East 60 5,225 5,051
South West 143 7,488 7,322
Total 1,026 62,287 60,797
1 Total staff, not full-time equivalents. No separate figure for part-time staff available.

(c) The budgets and staffing of the voluntary regional chambers are a matter for their members. Details are not held centrally.

(d) I have placed in the Library details provided by the English Regional Associations of the resources deployed by the constituent authorities of the regional planning bodies. The budgets and staffing of local government-based regional bodies are a matter for the members of such bodies.

Mr. Alan Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people are currently employed by One North East; and what have been its administration costs since its establishment. [96733]

Ms Beverley Hughes

The number of staff currently employed by One North East is 238 which in the main reflects the number employed by the partner organisations from which it was formed. For 1999–2000, the net indicative allocation for administration costs is £9,711,000 which will be fully utilised.