To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the North West regional development agency is providing any funding for a study to establish whether Lancaster Castle prison can become a tourist attraction. (96703)

[holding answer 24 October 2006]: No. The North West regional development agency has not received any such proposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether members of Vision Boards can remain on them without attending meetings. (96635)

This is a matter for the Vision Boards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many vision board managers are employed on a consultancy basis. (96639)

There is one Vision Board manager appointed on a consultancy basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many vision boards there are in the North West Regional Development Agency. (96640)

The North West Development Agency has encouraged the establishment of three Vision Boards in Preston, Lancaster and Burnley.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent on the vision boards set up by the North West regional development agency. (96701)

The North West regional development agency has encouraged the establishment of vision boards in Preston, Burnley and Lancaster. The agency has provided the following funding to the vision boards:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice the Northwest Regional Development Agency has given to Lancaster Vision Board regarding funding for a study to establish whether Lancaster prison can be closed and the castle turned into a tourist attraction. (96630)

The Northwest Regional Development Agency has advised the Lancaster and Morecambe Vision Board that any proposal seeking agency funding should be submitted as part of an action plan in support of the Lancaster and Morecambe Vision. All such proposals should also feature in the sub-regional action plans developed by the Lancashire Economic Partnership. This demonstrates sub-regional priority in delivering the Regional Economic Strategy.

The agency has not received a funding proposal in respect of Lancaster Castle.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role the area manager from the Northwest Regional Development Agency plays on the Lancaster Vision Board. (96631)

The Northwest Regional Development Agency’s area manager attended Lancaster and Morecambe Vision Board meetings as an observer and advised the board on matters relating to delivery of the Regional Economic Strategy and agency policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the Lancaster and Morecambe Vision document cost to reproduce. (96633)

The Lancaster and Morecambe Vision documents cost a total of £20,819. This covered:

design;

consultation/promotion;

website posting;

5,000 full version copies; and

2,000 abridged version copies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Lancaster and Morecambe Vision Board was set up. (96634)

The Northwest Regional Development Agency first proposed the idea of a Vision Board for Lancaster and Morecambe to the local authority and key private sector representatives on 22 March 2004. Lancaster and Morecambe Vision Board first met on 26 May 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Lancaster and Morecambe Vision Board is responsible for (a) ensuring that effective delivery vehicles are in place to implement the regeneration strategy for the area and (b) the delivery of the economic vision and strategy for the Lancaster and Morecambe area. (96636)

The Lancaster and Morecambe Vision Board has no responsibility for either ensuring effective delivery vehicles are in place or for the delivery of the economic vision and strategy for Lancaster and Morecambe. Its role is to provide innovative and visionary support and advice with a strong private sector input.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who the representatives are on Lancaster Vision Board; and which sector each represents. (96638)

Lancaster and Morecambe Vision Board members are as follows: