§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons(a) Herefordshire and (b) Worcestershire are not represented on the board of the West Midlands Regional Development Agency; and if he will make a statement. [65111]
§ Mr. MealeAs was made clear in our White Paper "Building Partnerships for Prosperity", the success of RDAs will largely depend on their boards. Because of this, our primary concern has been to choose people who will make an effective contribution whatever their background. Consistent with this aim, we have also sought to reflect an appropriate balance of regional interests in the composition of boards. However, it should 57W be remembered Board Members are there to further the success of RDA, not as delegates of a particular area, but to take into account the interests of the region as a whole.