Mr. Michael Jabez FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in implementing the Performance and Innovation Unit's report "Reaching Out: The Role of Central Government at Regional and Local Level". [135645]
§ Mr. Prescott"Reaching Out" was published in February 2000. The Government accepted all of its 81 conclusions.
A key conclusion was that there should be new co-ordination arrangements. The Regional Co-ordination Unit (RCU) was established in April. In line with the report's recommendation, the RCU is an interdepartmental unit based in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. It reports to me, with day-to-day direction from my noble and learned Friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office, Lord Falconer of Thoroton.
The Unit has prepared an action plan identifying the key areas in which we need a new approach to developing and implementing Government policy with regional implications. The plan will be published on Friday 27 October and copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House. The plan will also be published on the website, together with a summary of progress on implementing the 81 detailed conclusions of the PIU report. The website reference is www.government-offices.gov.uk.