§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what studies he has(a) undertaken and (b) evaluated on the sustainability of funding to the Mersey Partnership from the public sector; [131727]
(2) what value for money assessment he has made of the public sector contributions to the Mersey Partnership. [131729]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThere have been no individual studies undertaken to look at the value for money and sustainability of funding to the Mersey Partnership from the public sector. For each Objective 1 bid a full appraisal has been undertaken which include assessments of value for money and the level of public sector contributions. Also, the Mersey Partnership's performance has been monitored primarily on a quarterly basis as Objective 1 claims are submitted; and a separate but connected process has been established for monitoring the use of the Merseyside Development Corporation's residual funding. In addition, the Regional Director of Government Office for the North West has been a member of the Mersey Partnership Board which is provided with quarterly progress reports.
Year Objective 1 Merseyside development corporation contribution fund Membership contributions Private sector contributions Totals 1995–96 609 — 415 359 1,383 1996–97 543 — 415 388 1,346 1997–98 605 — 412 472 1,489 1998–99 869 689 406 924 2,888 1999–2000 783 1781 382 778 2,724 Total 3,409 1,470 2,030 2,921 9,830 1 Residual value of fund £155,000 Notes:
1. Includes all private sector income.
2. Includes other private sector income e.g. sponsorship.
3. From 1998–99 includes all private sector income from Tourism company (including "commercial" revenues generated).
4. 1998–2000 is 15 month year for TMP and 12 month year for Tourism.
5. Membership contributions included local authorities, Merseyside TEC, English Partnership and represent voluntary contributions as part of the partnership agreement.
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§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 17 July 2000]: The table shows the figures for England between 1993–94 and 2003–04. Funding for road infrastructure in Wales is the responsibility of the National Assembly.
§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect of the expenditure of public funds by the Mersey Partnership in each of the last five years. [131726]
§ Ms Beverley HughesGovernment Office for the north west undertakes an assessment of progress against agreed outputs for the Mersey Partnership's Objective 1 funded activities each quarter. The latest claim was received at the beginning of June and the Mersey Partnership appear to be on course to meet all the outputs by 31 December 2000, and indeed have already surpassed some of the outputs signed up-to.
§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what the sources were of public sector contributions to the Mersey Partnership in each of the last five years; [131724]
(2) what assessment he has made of the division between public and private sector in membership contributions to the Mersey Partnership in each of the last five years. [131728]
§ Ms Beverley HughesFunding for the Mersey Partnership over the past five years has been as follows:
579W
§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for future public sector funding for the Mersey Partnership. [131725]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThere are no specific plans as yet, but it is anticipated that the Mersey Partnership will be making an application to the new Objective 1 programme. However, any bid will be subject to the usual rigorous appraisal that takes account of value for money and the level of public sector support. Membership subscriptions received from public sector agencies are a
£000 1999–2000 1998–99 1997 1996 1995 Administration 377 302 236 284 208 Corporate Communications 613 589 — 49 367 Investor Services 342 319 495 329 — Partnership Development 162 25 126 78 76 Research and Intelligence 105 144 — — — Image Promotion/Public — 132 657 559 948 Added Value Programmes 369 129 — — — Tourism 681 538 — — — Total 2,649 2,178 1,514 1,299 1,599
Operational ratios (Expressed as a percentage of total expenditure) Administrative overhead 15.2% Full unallocated establishment cost 34.6% Cost per job created (excluding tourism expenditure) £1,172
§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the resignation of the Chief Executive of the Mersey Partnership. [132088]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe resignation of the Chief Executive is a matter for him and the board of the Mersey Partnership. I understand the Chief Executive announced his intention to step down from the post at the end of July, and the board will appoint an interim manager until a new Chief Executive has been appointed.