To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department takes to monitor the effectiveness of spending by regional development agencies on the development of the tourism industry. (270403)

BERR and other Government Departments are involved in development of each RDA’s Regional Economic Strategy (RES) and in approving each region’s Corporate Plan. The plans are reviewed to ensure that the RDAs deliver against ministerial priorities and priorities identified in the RES.

The RDAs took on strategic responsibility for tourism development in the regions in 2003, and have developed tourism strategies and delivery structures in line with their RES. DCMS works with the RDAs in advancing and assessing progress on key strategic objectives through:

the 2012 Ministerial Advisory Group, which guides the delivery of the national tourism strategy (“Winning: A tourism strategy for 2012 and beyond”);

the Ministerial Monitoring and Implementation Group, which guides the delivery of the national skills strategy;

the Welcome to Britain Group, which is working to improve the overall visitor welcome and experience;

Partners for England, which focuses on improved resource and policy co-ordination at national, regional and local levels;

the RDA Tourism Leads group, which provides a forum for cross-regional co-operation, collaboration and leadership.