§ Ann WintertonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the Government's Financial Guarantee would amount to in each year from 2007 to 2013 for the(a) North West, (b) North East and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber Region; and where the funding would come from. [160738]
§ Mr. RaynsfordIf the UK proposals for an EU Framework for Devolved Regional Policy were agreed, the Government have committed that it would guarantee that by increasing UK Government spending on regional policy, UK nations and regions receive a level of resources which ensure they do not lose out from the UK's proposals on Structural Funds reform.
It is not possible to say now exactly what the domestic institutional arrangements will be in 2007, and therefore exactly how increased domestic funding would be distributed. However the principles of distribution are detailed in a written statement by my right hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, West (Ms Hewitt) on 11 December 2003, Official Report, columns 95–98WS. Equally it is not possible to put a figure on the Guarantee at this stage, without the GDP data that would be used in 2006.
§ Ann WintertonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the proposed regional assemblies grant in respect of fire and rescue responsibilities will match the total grant of the existing fire and rescue services in the individual regions. [160741]
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§ Mr. RaynsfordNo region's fire and rescue service will be financially disadvantaged because it reports to an elected regional assembly.
The Fire White Paper, Our Fire and Rescue Service announced that Regional Fire and Rescue Authorities,
where there are elected regional assemblies, fire and rescue authorities will be regional bodies constituted on similar lines to the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority" (paragraph 4. 15).The Regions White Paper, Your Region, Your Choice Revitalising the English Regions, announced,
fairness and consistency of treatment between the English regions can be most simply demonstrated if the level of resources for the region(s) with an elected assembly is determined on broadly the same basis as for other English regions" (paragraph 5.4).
§ Ann WintertonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the national public bodies with regional or local offices in the(a) North West Region and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber Region. [160753]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Cabinet Office publication, Public Bodies 2003, lists all the national public bodies in the United Kingdom. However, it does not break down the public bodies by region. Copies have been made available in the Library of the House.
§ Ann WintertonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what aspects of EU Regional Policy will be devolved to the English regions. [160754]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has overall responsibility for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), one of the key Structural Funds—which deliver EU regional policy. Under the current round of programmes (until the end of 2006), the responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Structural Funds is delegated to the Government Offices in the regions.
The Government"s 2002 White Paper Your Region, Your Choice: Revitalising the English Regions (Cm.5511) set out our proposal that where elected regional assemblies are established they would take over the role currently performed by Government Offices for any Structural Fund expenditure for future programming periods.
It is not possible at this stage to say which regions will have elected assemblies in 2007, nor what the outcome of Structural Fund reform will be. But as the White Paper made clear, the general approach for England— regional delivery within a clear national framework—will continue. This means that the management of replacement programmes, whether they involve European or domestic funds, will be devolved to regional or local level.