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Regional Development Agencies

Volume 455: debated on Thursday 11 January 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what overseas offices are maintained by each regional development agency (RDA); what the total cost to the public purse of each office was in each year since 2001; how much was allocated to each such office for 2006-07; how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time (i) UK-based and (ii) locally-engaged staff were employed by each RDA in each office in each year since 2001; and what assessment he has made of the impact of each office on the economies of the regions of each RDA. (109377)

[holding answer 18 December 2006]: The following tables show the countries in which offices are maintained by the regional development agencies, the costs of running those offices, the numbers of full-time and part-time staff employed at those offices and the numbers of locally engaged and UK-based staff they employ. Due to the disproportionate cost of providing this data as far back as 2001, the tables cover the last two financial years only. UK Trade and Investment is currently working with the regional development agencies to review their representation overseas and maximise effectiveness, ensuring that they deliver what is best for the UK in the most coherent manner.

Costs in 2005-06

£000

RDA/Country

Advantage West Midlands

East of England

East Midlands

North West

One North East

South East England

South West England

Yorkshire Forward

Australia

131

145

255

255

52

70

255

Belgium

99

China

98

28

82

29

France

122

60

27

Germany

81

100

28

India

164

140

Japan

173

1110

3158

183

70

398

3158

Korea

75

50

Norway

33

Sweden

81

180

USA

1505

180

1505

2364

2364

107

122

2364

Allocation for 2006-07

£000

RDA/Country

Advantage West Midlands

East of England

East Midlands

North West

One North East

South East England

South West England

Yorkshire Forward

Australia

124

145

253

253

65

70

253

Belgium

70

China

87

32

80

104

France

78

60

80

Germany

61

100

19

India

123

140

Japan

167

1110

3172

173

66

400

3172

Korea

48

12

Norway

19

Sweden

101

80

USA

1505

149

1505

2102

2102

170

125

2102

Full-time or part-time staff in 2005-06

Advantage West Midlands

East of England

East Midlands

North West

Full-time

Part-time

Full-time

Part-time

Full-time

Part-time

Full-time

Part-time

Australia

11

11

20.7

21.3

Belgium

1

China

France

1

1

Germany

1

1

India

11

11

Japan

11

11

31

31

Korea

Norway

Sweden

1

1

USA

13.5

2

1

13.5

24

One North EastSouth East EnglandSouth West EnglandYorkshire Forward

Full-time

Part-time

Full-time

Part-time

Full-time

Part-time

Full-time

Part-time

Australia

20.7

21.3

1

1

20.7

21.3

Belgium

China

3

1

2

2

France

1

Germany

1

India

Japan

2

1

2

4

31

31

Korea

1

1

Norway

1

Sweden

USA

24

5

2

24

Full-time or part-time staff in 2006-07

Advantage West Midlands

East of England

East Midlands

North West

Full-time

Part-time

Full-time

Part-time

Full-time

Part-time

Full-time

Part-time

Australia

11

11

20.7

21.3

Belgium

1

China

France

1

2

Germany

1

2

India

11

11

Japan

12

11

31

31.5

Korea

Norway

Sweden

1

1

USA

13.5

1

1

13.5

24.3

20.7

One North EastSouth East EnglandSouth West EnglandYorkshire Forward

Full-time

Part-time

Full-time

Part-time

Full-time

Part-time

Full-time

Part-time

Australia

20.7

21.3

1

1

20.7

21.3

Belgium

China

3

1

2

2

France

1

Germany

1

India

Japan

2

1

2

4

31

31.5

Korea

1

1

Norway

1

Sweden

USA

24.3

20.7

5

2

24.3

20.7

1 Collaboration between Advantage West Midlands and East Midlands Development

2 Collaboration between North West Development Agency, One North East and Yorkshire Forward.

3 Collaboration between North West Development Agency and Yorkshire Forward.

RDA/Country

2005-06

2006-07

East Midlands Development Agency

France

1

Germany

1

One North East

Norway

1

1

North West, One North East and Yorkshire Forward have collaborated to have one UK based member of staff in the USA in 2006-07. All other staff are locally engaged.

London Development Agency 2006-07

China

Allocation

82

Full-time

4

Part-time

1

Locally engaged

4

UK-based

1