To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff are employed (a) full-time and (b) part-time at (i) local, (ii) regional and (iii) national level to work on the implementation of the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration; whether she plans to change these numbers before completion of the review; and whether the staff concerned will continue to be employed after completion. (210614)

A number of staff in the Department contribute to the implementation of the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration, including those working on regional planning, business rate supplements, local authority performance and local economic development.

However, it is not possible, at reasonable cost, to disaggregate staff time spent specifically on the implementation of the review. Full details of my Department's expenditure in 2007-08 can be found in Annex B to its 2008 Annual Report: “Community, Opportunity, Prosperity” (Cm 3794). There has been no net increase in staffing as a result of the review and decisions on future staff needs will be taken in the context of wider business planning exercises.