Written question asked by Baroness Berger (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 March 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 March 2011. It was answered by Mark Prisk (Conservative) on Monday, 14 March 2011 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

North West Regional Development Agency: Assets

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what reasons his Department has not permitted the North West Regional Development Agency to publish its recommendations for the future ownership of its assets.

Answer: The Department has not instructed the North West Regional Development Agency, nor any other regional development agency (RDA), not to publish their recommendations for the future ownership of their assets or liabilities. All RDAs have prepared draft plans for disposals and transfers: the plans have been developed by the RDAs, approved by their boards, and are subject to Government approval. It is for RDAs to decide when and how to release the plans as they know which aspects of the plans are commercially sensitive, we support them in being as transparent as possible while protecting commercially sensitive material.

Secondary information