Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Ian Cawsey (Labour). It was answered on Thursday, 29 October 2009 on behalf of the Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Grand Committee.

Public Expenditure

Question: I was pleased to hear that the funding for this area places us fifth in the league table. As a supporter of Grimsby Town that sounds like heaven to me. Is she aware that last week—indeed you were present, Mr. Betts—the Regional Select Committee interviewed employer organisations across the area? They all said that the RDA Yorkshire Forward needs to continue and be supported by the Government and that it would be a retrograde step for employment in the area if it went away. Moreover if money were delegated down to local councils, good job though they do, that would in itself bring a whole series of unfairnesses. How would a small town like Goole battle for Capitol Park and the 5,000 jobs if it was just down to a small council as opposed to the funding that we got both from the Government and the RDA?

Answer: My hon. Friend has repeated what I have heard from the many businesses that I meet in the Yorkshire and Humber region. The regional approach, working with the RDA, has been right in ensuring that we not only help businesses and individuals in the downturn but, crucially, plan for the future. It would be almost impossible to envisage how we could, for example, expand the energy development industries across the region through the efforts of individual local authorities. North East Lincolnshire has done a good job in terms of the offshore wind facilities, but it needs the assistance of a regional approach to be able to deliver. To take that away would be disastrous.

Secondary information