§ Mr. MossTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the total budget for each regional chamber in England by region for(a) the last financial year and (b) this financial year; and what the projected figure is for next year.[12523]
§ Dr. WhiteheadThe regional chambers have been established voluntarily by bodies representing the interests of each region. Their budgets are a matter for the chambers and their members. The Government have however allocated £500,000 this year to each regional chamber, with an additional £1 million for chambers to use collectively, to help them establish a stronger strategic and scrutiny role within the regions.
§ Mr. MossTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of funding for regional chambers in England came from central Government for(a) last year and (b) this financial year; and what the projected apportionment is for the next financial year.[12524]
§ Dr. WhiteheadThe Government provided no funding to the regional chambers in 2000–01. For 2001–02 we have allocated £500,000 to each regional chamber, with an additional £1 million for chambers to use collectively, to help them establish a stronger strategic and scrutiny role within the regions. As the total budgets of the 139W chambers are a matter for the chambers themselves, information on the proportion represented by Government funding is not available centrally.