To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what advice he has received on regional strategies and regional development agencies from the Ministers for (a) the North East, (b) the North West, (c) Yorkshire and the Humber, (d) London, (e) the South East, (f) the South West, (g) the East Midlands, (h) the West Midlands and (i) the East of England. (169596)

Two of the nine RDAs, Advantage West Midlands and the East of England development agency, are in the process of reviewing the Regional Economic Strategies (RES): the other RES were reviewed prior to the appointment of Regional Ministers. The Ministers for the West Midlands and the East of England have worked with RDAs both on finalising the RES and on the work of the RDAs in their regions more generally. All the regional Ministers outside London have given advice on appointments to the boards of the RDAs, using the specifications, panel report and supporting documentation supplied by the selection panel for the RDA board appointments.