§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 10 June 1999,Official Report, column 377, who appoints the members of European Regional Chambers; what are their duties; with what other regional bodies they are in partnership; by what tests they are considered suitable for designation under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998; and what further responsibilities arise from that designation. [88686]
30W
§ Mr. CabornAs I said in my answer on 10 June 1999,Official Report, column 377, regional chambers have no formal status in relation to the European Union; they are therefore not "European" regional chambers.
Regional chambers are voluntary partnerships formed by local authorities and other regional stakeholders with an interest in the economic, social, and environmental well-being of the region. Membership is decided by the stakeholders themselves. However, for the chamber to achieve designation the basis for the selection of the membership must meet criteria set out in the White Paper 'Building Partnerships for Prosperity' published in December 1997, and general principles set out in further guidance issued by the Department in August 1998. The White Paper criteria and the further guidance also cover non-membership issues. Copies are in the Library.
The Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 imposes no duties or responsibilities on regional chambers but designation enables them to play a consultative and scrutiny role in relation to the Regional Development Agencies. The Government also believe that regional chambers are well placed to take over the role of regional planning bodies, but it is for the existing planning bodies to decide whether and how this should be done.
Otherwise, it is for the regional chambers themselves, as voluntary partnerships, to decide their own work programmes and the extent of their partnership activity.