§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria he used to select people to serve on the South West Regional Development Agency; how many people58W representing organisations in Gloucestershire were considered as suitable applicants under this criteria; and if he will make a statement. [64813]
§ Mr. MealeThe criteria for selection were set out in the information pack for people expressing an interest in serving on the Agency's Board. Copies of the information pack are available in the Library.
Of the 28 people interviewed for the Board, five came from Gloucestershire, although they were not, given the criteria for selection, "representing organisations in Gloucestershire". One of these five Gloucestershire candidates, Nigel Costley, has been appointed to the Board.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to ensure that the particular interests of Gloucestershire are represented on the South West Regional Development Agency; and if he will make a statement. [64848]
§ Mr. MealeThe role of the boards of regional development agencies is to consider the interests of the region as a whole. Appointments were therefore made on the basis of the expertise that each member brings to the board, rather than to provide representation for particular localities or organisations.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people representing organisations in Gloucestershire expressed interest in serving on the South West Regional Development Agency; which organisations in Gloucestershire proposed people for membership; and if he will make a statement. [64812]
§ Mr. MealeThe role of the boards of regional development agencies is to consider the interests of the region as a whole. Appointments were therefore made on the basis of the expertise that each member brings to the board, rather than to provide representation for particular localities or organisations.
336 people applied to be members of the Board of the South West Regional Development Agency. Thirty nine of these came from Gloucestershire.
Two organisations in Gloucestershire supported particular applications for board membership.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to ensure that the appointments he has made to the South West Regional Development Agency reflect the geographical spread of the area covered. [64811]
§ Mr. MealeThe role of the boards of regional development agencies is to consider the interests of the region as a whole.
In making appointments, the Government have sought to ensure that board members bring understanding of the range of conditions existing within their regions. This has resulted in a broadly even geographical spread.