The government unveiled plans for regional development agencies(RDAs), which are due to open for business in April 1999.
The RDAs will be responsible for economic development and social andphysical regeneration, according to the White Paper published yesterday.They will take over regeneration activities from English Partnershipsand the Rural Development Commission. They will also become responsiblefor the government’s single regeneration budget. Funding for inwardinvestment will be funded through them.
Lord Shuttleworth resigned in protest from his position as chairmanof the Rural Development Commission. John Prescott, the deputy primeminister, said Shuttleworth knew he would not been asked to remain pastfrom his retirement date in March next year because he had appointed bythe Conservative government.
- Financial Times 04/12/97 page 7, page 25 (Leader)
- The Times 04/12/97 page 29 (Commentary)
- The Daily Telegraph 04/12/97 page 19
