HC Deb 02 December 2002 vol 395 cc639-40W
Mr. Pickles

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding or authorisation for spending will be provided for yes and no campaigns in regions which decide to hold a referendum on regional assemblies. [83441]

Mr. Raynsford

This is a matter for the Electoral Commission under the provisions of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (sections 108–110 and schedule 12). The Government will not fund any "yes" or "no" campaigns.

Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which national bodies accountable to Government operate on a(a) wholly and (b) partial regional basis; and in each case to which regional government office they report. [83816]

Mr. Leslie

As set out in annex C of the White Paper Your Region, Your Choice (Cm 5511; annexes updated in August 2002), apart from the Government Offices, there can be up to four main types of government presence in a regioncentral government agencies with local or regional offices (such as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency); national non-departmental public bodies ('quangos') with local or regional offices (such as English Nature or the Prescription Pricing Authority); regional non-departmental public bodies (such as the Regional Developmental Agencies); local organisations located in a region (such as port authorities).

An indicative list of the public bodies active in a particular region (the North East in this case) is included in the White Paper annex.

Mr. Liddell-Grainger

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people are employed by the(a) Regional Development Agency and (b) Regional Assembly in Somerset. [83390]

Mr. Leslie

In the year to 31 March 2002, the South West England Development Agency employed an average of 197 people, serving the whole of the region. There are approximately 12 staff, based in Taunton, working nearly exclusively in support of the agenda of the South West Regional Assembly. The SWRA secretariat also supports the work of two other regional organisations: the South West Local Government Association and the South West Provincial Employers. Staff work flexibly across all three parts.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent evaluations have been undertaken of the effectiveness of the Regional Co-ordination Unit and Government Office network; and if he will make a statement. [84149]

Mrs. Roche

The Government Offices contribute to the delivery of the programmes of a number of different Government Departments and these are set out in the Corporate Plan for the Regional Co-ordination Unit and Government Office network. Performance against the Corporate Plan is monitored quarterly and the outcomes reported to sponsor Departments.

A copy of the Corporate Plan for the network will be placed in the Library of the House.