HC Deb 19 June 2000 vol 352 cc10-1W
Dr. Kumar

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) the north-east regional development agency and (b) other regional development agencies; and if he will make a statement. [126497]

Ms Beverley Hughes

My Department has commissioned consultants to undertake an evaluation of the strategies and action plans produced by all eight RDAs, including One North East. Research is also being carried out by consultants into partnership working by RDAs in the development and production of their strategies. It is the aim that both pieces of research will be published and that the findings will contribute to a report on the RDA's performance in their first year of operation.

The 2000–01 research programme of my Department's Local and Regional Government Research Unit also includes provision for a long-term evaluation of the operation and effectiveness of RDAs.

Dr. Kumar

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the relationship between the north-east regional development agency and local regeneration partnerships; and if he will make a statement. [126498]

Ms Beverley Hughes

One North East sees the four sub-regional partnerships in the north east as having a key role in delivery of the Regional Economic Strategy, and is giving high priority to developing and supporting those sub-regional partnerships.

My Department has employed consultants to undertake research on partnership working by RDAs in the development and production of their regional economic strategies. This will examine the extent and form of partnership working by all the RDAs, including One North East, with sub-regional and local partnerships, including those with a regeneration remit. We hope to publish this research in the autumn.

The 2000–01 research programme of my Department's Local and Regional Government Research Unit includes proposals to undertake a review of the nature and form of governance relationships at the regional and sub-regional level, including partnership working with, and ownership by, local and regional stakeholders and the wider community.