Written question asked by Julian Smith (Conservative) on Wednesday, 9 February 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 11 February 2011. It was answered by Mark Prisk (Conservative) on Tuesday, 15 February 2011 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Yorkshire Forward

Question: (3) whether he plans to ensure that all areas covered by Yorkshire Forward will benefit from the disposal of its assets.

Answer: Yorkshire Forward, along with all other RDAs, submitted a detailed assets and liabilities plan to BIS on 31 January 2011. Their plan is currently being scrutinised by Government before being given final sign off by the Yorkshire Forward Board. We anticipate that the systematic disposal of assets and liabilities will begin in April 2011.As such, no final decisions have yet been made on the destination of particular assets.Each disposal will be considered on a case by case basis. At present, any disposal of regional development agency assets and liabilities will take place within the existing legislative framework (the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998). Decisions will be made with a view to obtaining the best outcome for the local area consistent with achieving value for the public purse.For more details on this process I refer my hon. Friend to the statement on RDA Assets and Liabilities that I issued on 10 February 2011:"http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/economic-development/englands-regional-development-agencies/assets"Copies of this statement have also been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Secondary information