Businesses and the Regions

That is a good point. I highlighted some examples of ongoing regional development around the country. At times of crisis and economic shocks, RDAs have played an important role. For example, during last year's floods, RDAs were able to get short-term help to businesses quickly and effectively. The example that my hon. Friend gave is absolutely right. In the west midlands, following the collapse of MG Rover, the RDA played a critical role in supporting businesses in the supply chain and in co-ordinating the retraining of the more than 6,000 workers affected. The result, not just of the RDAs' efforts, but of those of all concerned, was that by late 2006 fewer than 500 of the original 6,000-plus workers were still seeking alternative work. In the current circumstances, RDAs play an important role in working with businesses through their own initiatives, and they have already worked with businesses and local authorities to create a more user-friendly system of business support. In the past, too many of those schemes grew up, however well intended they were. Last week, my noble Friend the Secretary of State announced that they would be slimmed down to 30 advice, grant and loan products, which collectively will deliver some £1.4 billion in support to businesses. In individual regions, help is being provided to businesses in the current environment—for example, One NorthEast's efforts to match jobseekers with vacancies in the area or, in the south-east, the development agency's efforts to help businesses reduce the cost of their energy needs. Last week, when I said that the Opposition had placed a question mark over the future of the RDAs, the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton said it was not so, but I have checked the statements of Opposition Members on that issue. The Leader of the Opposition said, just a couple of months ago:"““let's abolish things like the regional assemblies and the West Midlands Regional Development Agency.””" He went on to say:"““I think the entire experiment with regional government, with regional assemblies, with many of the regional development agencies, I think that has been a complete waste and that should go.””" When asked about restructuring regional quangos, the Conservative local government spokesman, the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles), said:"““you could only possibly say we were looking towards restructuring them if you felt that Ann Boleyn received a restructuring from the guillotine. So in that sense there is going to be a sort of divvying up of the corpse””." It is quite clear that the Opposition have placed at least a question mark—and that is putting it politely—over the future of RDAs.