HC Deb 28 February 2002 vol 380 cc1483-4W
Mr. Liddell-Grainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will increase the number of places for business people on RDA boards. [38479]

Alan Johnson

The RDAs are business-led organisations and all the RDA Chairs have strong business backgrounds. I announced the new appointments to the Regional Development Agency boards on 7 December 2001. Board members with current business experience now make up 50 per cent. of boards overall. This is a ten per cent. increase from the last round of appointments. Some RDA boards have even higher percentages of current business representation, including the East of England Development Agency and the South West Regional Development Agency with 57 per cent.

Trade unions, local government, voluntary organisations and other bodies will also continue to be represented on RDA boards, with the majority of boards now at their statutory maximum of 15 members.

Mr. Liddell-Grainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will increase regional development agency support for national parks. [38478]

Alan Johnson

From 1 April, funding for Regional Development Agencies will be through new single programme budget arrangements. RDAs will be able to decide on their priorities for spending according to their regional economic strategies. Funding for RDAs will increase significantly in 2002–03 over 2001–02, from £1.2 billion to £1.5 billion, but it is for individual RDA to decide on the basis of their dialogue with local stakeholders how these resources should be used.