HC Deb 08 July 1999 vol 334 cc590-1W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what are(a) the name of the landlord and (b) the address of the site of the new premises to be occupied by the North West Development Agency and related activities in Penrith, Cumbria; [88767]

(2) what the terms of the lease are for the property to be occupied by English Partnerships and other North West Development Agency operations at Penrith; [88758]

(3) what assessment has been made of the comparative costs of locating North West Development Agency activities in premises (a) owned by English Partnerships in Cockermouth and (b) rented in Penrith. [88768]

Mr. Meale

[holding answer 6 July 1999]: Decisions on location are a matter for the North West Development Agency. I understand that the Agency has not yet taken a final decision on the location of the Penrith office. Discussions are underway with Allen Commercial Development Agency in respect of a building on the Penrith 40 Business Park at Junction 40 of the M6.

The annual rental costs and other terms of a lease are thus still under negotiation but I understand that the rental cost may be in the order of £10 per square foot. The opportunity cost of the Agency occupying the premises in Cockermouth transferred to it from English Partnership is about £4.50 per square foot.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the names of those organisations and individuals who nominated each member of the Board of the North West Development Agency. [89062]

Mr. Meale

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 6 July 1999,Official Report, columns 449–50.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the role of officials in the North West Region in the nomination and selection of each person appointed to the Board of the North West Development Agency. [89063]

Mr. Meale

The appointment of members to the Board of the Regional Development Agencies was carried out in accordance with the Code of Practice and Guidance laid down by Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Government Offices in the Regions were involved in the sift of candidates and the interviews. Independent assessors participated at the sift and interview stages to ensure independent scrutiny of the process, and that the appointments procedures were fair and consistently applied. The final decisions on the appointments were made by Ministers.