§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the organisations which were subsumed into the South West Regional Development Agency. [37295]
§ Alan JohnsonI have been asked to reply.
The five organisations which either were subsumed into the RDA or from which the RDA took staff were:
- Rural Development Commission (RDC)
- English Partnerships
- Devon and Cornwall Development International (DCDI)
- West of England Development Agency (WEDA)
- Government Office for the South West.
The RDA was established on 1 April 1999. WEDA and DCDI ceased to exist operationally from that date; both these organisations and the RDC were wound up by April 2000.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment the Government made of(a) the role of, (b) the effectiveness of and (c) the projects undertaken by the regional development agencies; how often these reviews take place; and if he will make a statement. [37260]
§ Alan JohnsonI have been asked to reply.
We regularly assess the role and effectiveness of the regional development agencies. Under the Single Programme Budget arrangements, which take effect on 1 April 2002, the Government will be reviewing annually RDAs' effectiveness in achieving progress towards the realisation of their Regional Economic Strategies, and in contributing towards the regional achievement of the national targets the Government have set.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the costs that have been incurred by each individual regional development agency in each year since their establishment. [37258]
§ Alan JohnsonI have been asked to reply.
Since their inception the RDAs have been given an annual administration budget to cover the running costs of each agency. The budgets are as follows.
1377W
Administration Budget (running costs) £000 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 One North East 8,791 10,513 12,853 North West Development Agency 11,837 13,876 14,956 Yorkshire Forward 8,659 8,284 9,989 East Midlands Development Agency 5,013 7,377 7,528 Advantage West Midlands 7,421 8,352 8,793 East of England Development Agency 4,570 4,849 5,836 South East Development Agency 6,416 6,343 7,143 South West Development Agency 7,086 8,380 9,099 London Development Agency n/a 6,009 9,470 Total 59,793 73,983 85,667