I have approved the appointments for the new RDA board chairs listed below.

Robert Hough—Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWRDA); and

Rob Douglas CBE—South East England Regional Development Agency (SEEDA).

Robert Hough will commence as chair on 17 August 2009.

Rob Douglas will commence as chair designate, to ensure continuity from 1 September 2009, and will take up post as chair from 2 November 2009.

The new appointments will be initially until 13 December 2012.

The appointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments code of practice.

I have placed further details of the appointments in the Libraries of both Houses.