Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Phil Wilson Excerpts
Thursday 22nd July 2010

(14 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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I was wondering whether that merited a response, Mr Speaker. I have decided that it does not.

Phil Wilson Portrait Phil Wilson (Sedgefield) (Lab)
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Last year, One NorthEast attracted £750 million-worth of inward investment into the region. In fact, 82% of inward investment into the north-east comes through that regional development agency. May we have a debate to expose the fact that abolishing the RDA is an act of economic vandalism?

Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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If they want, local authorities can replace RDAs with local enterprise boards. If the hon. Gentleman’s local authorities believe in the value of regional development agencies, they are perfectly at liberty to recreate one as an LEB.