Regional Development Agencies: Recruitment

Philip Davies
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2009, Official Report, column 988W, on regional development agencies: recruitment, how much has been spent on the contract with the search consultants.

Ms Rosie Winterton
The cost of the search consultants for filling three chair vacancies for East of England Development Agency, ONE North East and Yorkshire Forward is £55,000.

The consultants not only undertake the search, they undertake many of the administrative elements, for example sifting the applications, undertaking long listing interviews and giving feedback to candidates who have applied.