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Regional Development Agencies: Trade Unions

Volume 462: debated on Monday 25 June 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the merits of establishing trade union representation on Regional Development Agency boards; and what representations he has received from the Trades Union Congress on this matter. (143124)

RDA boards are made up of a range of different skills and experience to reflect a balance of regional interests. Each board includes a trade union representative.

Each trade union member is appointed by the Secretary of State following a recruitment process which meets the code of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Each board member’s performance is reviewed annually by the Chair of the RDA. Ministers take account of performance reviews when considering reappointments.

I meet the TUC regional development network regularly to discuss RDA issues but not appointments policy.