News

18/06/2010

Dismantling all RDAs is wrong, says Shadow Minister

Picture of Latest

Roberta, the Shadow Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills, has spoken out against the Government's plan to dismantle the English Regional Development Agencies.

  

Roberta said

 

"Simply getting rid of RDAs does not stand up to scrutiny.  If the Government wants to reduce regional inequalities, which I certainly do, that means having an active regional policy which seeks to support business and economic development particularly in those areas of the country that are most disadvantaged.

  

"The Government's only plan at the moment is to ask local authorities to take over business support from the RDAs.  Whilst local authorities clearly have an important role to play in economic development this still leaves the question of how the Government is going to take a strategic view of development needs at a regional level.  This would include identifying regional skills needs and planning transport infrastructure too. 

 

"Some RDAs have done really excellent work in bringing jobs and investment to their regions and they should be supported into the future and not simply got rid of in Cameron's ambition to make the state as small as possible.

  

"It is our view that state support is essential for business growth and that this is needed in some areas more than others."

 

Back to News | News Archive