§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what(a) is the current cost, (b) was the cost in each of the last five years and (c) is the projected cost of each of the Government Offices for the Regions. [127992]
§ Ms Beverley Hughes[holding answer 27 June 2000]: The current running costs, and the running costs for the last five years for each of the Government Offices for the Regions, are set out in the table. The projected costs for the next financial year and beyond are the subject of negotiation between Departments, in the light of the recommendations of the PIU Report "Reaching Out".
The increase in running costs for the Government Offices Central Unit (GOCU) reflects the transfer of functions to the unit by parent Departments. The Central Unit also hold a number of budgets centrally on behalf of GOs.
Prior to 1996, this information was not collated centrally and could not be provided without disproportionate cost.
The increase in the number of staff in the Government Office for London reflects the transfer of responsibility for transport policy in London from DETR to GO-L and GO-L's work on the establishment of the GLA as a whole. GO-L is already declining in number and expects staff numbers to decrease further.
§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what functions are carried out by each of the Government Offices for the Regions; and what functions have been transferred from them to Regional Development Agencies. [127994]
§ Ms Beverley Hughes[holding answer 27 June 2000]: The Government Offices for the Regions operate within a Policy Framework and a set of objectives endorsed by their parent Departments. The Policy Framework covers five areas of cross-departmental activity comprising 557W Regeneration, Sustainable Development, Competitiveness, Social Inclusion and Partnership. The main departmental activities include:
For DETR—Regeneration; land use planning in the regions; Housing in the regions; Countryside, integrated transport strategies, road scheme decisions; local transport priorities; statutory casework.For DTI—Promotion of national competitiveness policies; Regional; Selective Assistance; the Smart scheme; Business Links; Export Promotion; provision of regional economic intelligence, enterprise grant scheme.For DfEE—TEC and Careers Service contracting; National Learning Targets, European Social Fund and some education related activities.The Single Regeneration Budget and administration of Inward Investment activity (with the exception of GO-East and GO-London, which retain some residual responsibilities for inward investment activity) transferred from the Government Offices to the Regional Development Agencies. The GOs have a major role in sponsorship of the RDAs.
The Government are currently reviewing the regional activities of all Whitehall Departments in the light of the PIU Report "Reaching Out", to ensure strengthened co-ordination of policy initiatives with a regional and local impact. All Departments whose responsibilities affect regional or local activities are committed to better co-ordination of key policies by involving Government Offices.