§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the expenditure on(a) staff and (b) office accommodation of each of the regional development agencies. [107942]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe planned expenditure for 1999–2000 for each of the Regional Development Agencies on staff and on accommodation are as follows:
£ Regional Development Agency Staff Accommodation North West Development Agency 4,400,000 500,000 One North East 4,388,000 649,000 Yorkshire Forward 5,629,000 929,000 Advantage West Midlands 2,979,000 813,000 East Midlands Development Agency 3,396,000 1,135,000 East of England Development Agency 2,975,000 285,000 South West of England Regional Development Agency 4,147,000 2,321,000 South of England Development Agency 2,846,000 1,269,000
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what budget is available to the regional development agencies for implementing their sustainable development programmes. [107944]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) have not been given specific budgets to implement sustainable development policies. The RDAs have a statutory duty to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in the UK, and it is integral to their Regional Strategies and action plans. The RDAs' contribution to sustainable development will be delivered through the implementation of these plans, and of their programmes and projects.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what timetable he has given the regional development agencies for their contributions to an integrated transport system in the regions. [107940]
§ Ms Beverley HughesRegional Development Agencies (RDAs) have a keen interest in integrated transport issues in their regions. They are providing an important input into the regional transport strategies which are being prepared as part of the Regional Planning Guidance (RPG). The timetable for the preparation of RPG varies by region.
The regional planning bodies are also considering the transport implications of RDAs' regional strategies. Similarly, the regional transport strategies should inform and assist the RDAs in the implementation of their own Strategies.
663WRDAs have also been invited to feed their ideas on integrated transport into the 10-year plan for investment in transport, currently being developed by my Department.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that the regional development agencies deliver their plans for sustainable development on time. [107943]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) were not required to develop specific sustainable development plans. The RDAs' contribution to sustainable development is integral to their regional strategies and action plans, and will be delivered through the implementation of these plans, and of their programmes and projects.
The Government will shortly be issuing guidance on Regional Development Sustainable Development Frameworks which will be high level vision statements for sustainable development in the regions. The RDAs will play a key role in producing the frameworks but will not take the lead.