HC Deb 03 April 2000 vol 347 cc319-20W
Mr. Quinn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the accountability of regional quangos to the people of their regions. [116329]

Ms Beverley Hughes

As executive NDPBs, the eight Regional Development Agencies are accountable to Ministers and Parliament. They are required, by the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998, to take account of the views of voluntary regional chambers in preparing their strategies, and to give an account of their activities to the chambers. Chambers are representative of the people in the regions that they serve: 70 per cent. of their members are elected members of the region's local authorities, with the remaining 30 per cent. drawn from the region's social, economic and environmental sectors.

Mr. Quinn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met representatives of the regional chambers to discuss possible future development in regional Government. [116330]

Ms Beverley Hughes

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and the Regions and I met representatives of all but one of the regional chambers on 16 December to discuss a range of issues, including the future development of regional governance.

(2) how many (a) male and (b) female board members each regional non-departmental public body for which he is responsible has; 1116374]

(3) if he will list the regional non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible. [116375]

Ms Beverley Hughes

The table provides the information requested.

Mr. Quinn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will set a date for a referendum on the creation of a directly elected regional assembly in Yorkshire and Humberside. [116370]

Ms Beverley Hughes

The Government are committed to move to directly elected regional government in England, where there is support demonstrated in a referendum. While no date has yet been set, Yorkshire and the Humber is strengthening its regional presence through the work of Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Chamber for Yorkshire and Humberside, and other regional stakeholders.