Regional Planning and Development: Finance

Mrs. Spelman
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the role of (a) regional planning bodies and (b) regional development agencies is regarding decisions on regional funding allocations.

Ms Rosie Winterton
Each English region outside London provides regional funding advice to Ministers. The advice is based on work led by the regional development agency and regional assembly (or leaders’ board, where such a body has replaced the assembly), supported by the Government office. However, final decisions on regional funding allocations are a matter for Ministers.