Gershon Review

HC Deb 07 September 2004 vol 424 cc1027-8W

Mr. Stephen O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the estimated savings are fr#m the efficient devolution of business support products from the Central Department to the regional development agencies as part of Sir Peter Gershon's efficiency review into public services. [185110]

Jacqui Smith

As stated in Peter Gershon's report on his independent review of public sector efficiency "Releasing Resources to the Front Line", the Regional Development Agencies have agreed to deliver 2.5 per cent. efficiencies per year in the Spending Review period, at least half of which will be cash-releasing back into the Single Programme budget, which brings together allocations from all the Departments that fund them. DTI as the lead sponsor Department, will work

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Germany	1	0	4	2	1	4	3
Sweden	1	0	0	1	3	0	0
France	0	0	5	0	0	3	2
USA	9	9	8	8	11	11	14
Canada	0	0	2	0	1	2	0
Singapore	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
India	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Australia	0	0	1	1	0	0	0
Belgium	0	1	1	0	0	0	1

Miss Kirkbride

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much inward investment the region of Yorkshire and the Humber received from(a) Japan and (b) China in each year since 1997. [187223]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

Since 1997 UK Trade and Investment recorded the following number of inward investment proje#ts from Japan and China to invest in the Yorkshire and Humberside region. Figures for 1997–98 to 2002–03 have been updated since the

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Japan	0	5	1	1	3	2	2
China	3	1	1	0	2	0	0

with the Regional Development Agencies to identify further efficiencies where possible. The Regional Development Agencies will be expected to identify efficiencies in delivering on the additional responsibilities that have been devolved to them. These additional responsibilities include the delivery of regional and local Business Link services and the grant for Research and Development. The Regional Development Agencies will report to my Department on how these savings are to be achieved.