§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what rural statutory duties have been placed on the regional development agencies; and which of these relate explicitly to agriculture. [136680]
§ Ms Beverley Hughes[holding answer 6 November 2000]: The statutory purposes of Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) relate to: economic development and regeneration, business efficiency, investment and competitiveness, employment, skills and training and sustainable development. They apply as much in relation to the rural parts of their areas as to the non-rural parts. In addition there is at least one member of every RDA Board with experience in rural issues. The statutory guidance on the preparation of RDAs' strategies states that RDAs should take account of the particular features of the region's rural areas including the role of land-based industries such as agriculture.