HC Deb 24 January 2002 vol 378 c1065W
John Mann

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-regional partnerships of regional development agencies are being established; and how many are business led. [29300]

Alan Johnson

Sixty-one sub-regional economic partnerships are either already in existence or are currently being established with the help of the regional development agencies. The RDAs will be working closely with the partnerships to deliver the regions' economic strategies. The majority are chaired by business people or have substantial business involvement in their boards, but all are expected to be fully representative of the public and private sectors.