§ Mr. MossTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding for tourism has been made available to each regional development agency (RDA) in the current year; and how much of this funding each RDA passed on(a) to its regional tourist board, (b) to local authorities, (c) to local and regional businesses and (d) for use for marketing. [172389]
§ Mr. CabornIn 2004–05, the RDAs will receive £3.6 million specifically for tourism as follows:
Amount (£) Advantage West Midlands 252,000 East of England Development Agency 543,000 East Midlands Development Agency 252,000 North West Development Agency 713,000 One North East 333,000 South East Development Agency 744,000 South West Regional Development Agency 403,000 Yorkshire Forward 360,000 This money is ring-fenced for the Regional Tourist Boards until the end of 2005–06. Those regions which no longer work with an RTB have sought the Department's approval to pass the money to other designated tourism 487W delivery bodies. The RDAs will determine what objectives and targets the RTBs or other organisations should meet in return for the funds, working as appropriate with local authorities and businesses.
In the North East, ONE has taken over the core functions of the former Northumbria Tourist Board, and will retain the funding on the basis that it is ring-fenced for this purpose. In the North West, the NWDA has established four destination management organisations to take over the role of the former NW Tourist Board.