RDAs respond to our comment series
Date: 26/01/2010We've received two thoughtful and constructive responses from the RDAs, in response to our three recent comment pieces. Mick Laverty, Chair of the RDA Chief Executives and Chief Executive of Advantage West Midlands, wrote to us on behalf of all the RDAs. Both responses included a great deal of agreement with our position, as well as some obvious challenges.
The RDAs' first response addressed our presentation of the facts drawn from the PwC report:
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They supported our call for a broader debate on spending priorities at the national and regional level, rather than focusing just on RDAs.
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They highlighted that the PwC evaluation is probably more robust than most other government evaluations.
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And they firmly positioned RDAs as bodies that understand businesses' needs.
The RDAs' second response focused on our position:
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They supported our call for duplication of effort at the regional level to be reduced - and commented on our suggested reallocation of programmes, highlighting where RDAs would be best-placed to continue delivering.
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While RDAs are not directly democratically accountable to the electorate, their response highlighted that RDAs are accountable to Ministers and Parliament, and are scrutinised by the National Audit Office.
The Centre for Cities welcomes these comments and looks forward to continuing the debate with the RDAs in the run up to the election.
The full comment pieces are available online:
Regional development agencies: the facts
Regional development agencies: the politics
Regional development agencies: our position
