§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the(a) budgets and (b) administrative costs were for each of the regional chambers in England for each financial year since their establishment; and what their planned (i) budgets and (ii) administrative costs are for the next two years. [1276]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe eight regional chambers have been established voluntarily by bodies representing the interests of each region. The Government proposed earlier this year to provide £15 million for the chambers over a three year period to enable them to strengthen their role in the regions. It is hoped to make a further announcement about this soon; otherwise, their costs and budgets are a matter for the chambers and their members.