§ Mr. HealeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) from what source the development fund he plans for use by regional development agencies to analyse and tackle regional skills shortages in their area will be provided; [42674]
(2) how much he plans to allocate to the development fund for use by regional development agencies to analyse regional skills shortages and to design and implement solutions; [42675]
(3) when the development fund for use by regional development agencies to tackle skills shortages in their areas will be made available; and whether the shadow RDAs will be able to make use of it. [42676]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Development Fund for Regional Development Agencies along with all Government funded programmes is currently being reviewed as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his Budget statement of 17 March 1998,Official Report, columns 1097–112, that an announcement about the Review would take place in the summer. The Development Fund for RDAs will be available from 1 April 1999.