The consultation on the review of sub national economic development and regeneration proposed that local authorities form a Leaders' Forum to work with the Regional Development Agency on regional strategy and that such a body should be representative for all local authorities in the respective region, including district councils. We intend to publish our response to that consultation shortly.
[holding answer 3 November 2008]: The Department’s area-based initiative programmes and their current budgets are set out in the following table.
These figures do not take account of the budgetary changes to be effected at the winter supplementary estimates which are due to be reported to the House and published by mid-November this year.
Programme Budget at main estimates 2008-09 (£ million) Area-based Grants 637.5 Market Renewal Pathfinders 381.0 Growth Areas 258.0 New Deal for Communities 245.6 Thames Gateway 177.0 Coalfields Regeneration Trusts 17.7
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is directly administered by the Government offices and has a budget of £10.3 million at the main estimate 2008-09. This figure does not take account of budgetary changes to be effected at the winter supplementary estimates which are due to be published later this month.
The ERDF budget is to cover possible insolvencies, irregularities and audit exposures in the 2000-06 programmes. Nothing has been written off to date.
For the regional development agencies, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave her on 4 November 2008, Official Report, columns 345-46W.