HC Deb 19 May 1999 vol 331 cc350-1W
Mr. Ottaway

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many regional development agencies have changed their name in the past five years. [84493]

Mr. Meale

Six of the Regional Development Agencies have changed their names. The names of each of the Regional Development Agencies are provided in the table.

Region Name of the Regional Development Agency
North East One North East
North West North West Development Agency
Yorkshire and Humber Yorkshire Forward
West Midlands Advantage West Midlands
East Midlands East Midlands Development Agency
East of England East of England Development Agency
South East South East England Development Agency
South West South West of England Regional Development Agency

Lorna Fitzsimons

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he proposes to designate regional chambers for the purposes of regional development agencies; and if he will make a statement. [84973]

Mr. Prescott

I am pleased to announce that we have today issueda direction to the East Midlands Development Agency designating the East Midlands Regional Assembly as its regional chamber; a direction to the North West Development Agency designating the North West Regional Assembly as its regional chamber and; a direction to Advantage West Midlands designating the West Midlands Regional Chamber as its regional chamber.

Section 8 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 provides that, if the Secretary of State is of the opinion that there is a body which is representative of those in the RDA's area with an interest in its work, and that body is suitable to be given the role of regional chamber for the RDA, he may designate it.

RDAs must take full account of regional interests. Regional chambers will provide a mechanism through which RDAs can take account of regional views and account for their activities. Ministers expect that each RDA will have regard to the chamber's view in preparing it strategy, consult the chamber on its corporate plan and give an account of its performance to the chamber.

I am currently considering applications for designation from bodies in other regions.

Mr. Ottaway

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total cost, including consultancy fees, for changing its name to each regional development agency which has done so in the past five years. [84492]

Mr. Meale

Section 26 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 provides for a change of name of the agency from that specified under Section 1 of the Act. The change of name is a matter for the Boards. I understand that, where consultants were involved, it was part of their wider consideration of corporate image and communications strategy for the Regional Development Agency and the cost associated with the name change were not separately identified.