§ Mr. DonaldsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures his Department has taken to increase co-ordination between the various regional development agencies following the implementation of devolution. [87046]
§ Mr. WillsThe Chief Executive of the Invest in Britain Bureau (IBB), which is jointly managed by the DTI and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, continues to chair the Committee on Overseas Promotion (COP). The role of COP is to co-ordinate UK promotion of inward investment and avoid unnecessary duplication of effort by publicly funded promotional bodies. Members include representatives from the agencies for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the eight Regional Development Agencies in England and London First Centre. We are also encouraging the Regional Development Agencies in England to continue to explore and build on closer collaboration on overseas marketing and representation with neighbouring regions.