The government reported that the European Union Council had reached agreement on Structural and Cohesion Funds spending for 2007 2013. There would be a budget of 308 billion, an increase of 31 per cent compared to 2000 2006. The United Kingdom would receive approximately 9.4 billion (in 2004 prices) in Structural Funds receipts in the period 2007 2013, compared to approximately 15.85 billion (in 1999 prices) in 2000-2006.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 20 December 2005, columns 203-206WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2005-Dec
A report said that England s Regional Development Agencies needed to do more to encourage enterprise and communicate better with local businesses.
Source: Mike Harris, Transforming England s Regions?: A business view of the Regional Development Agencies, Institute of Directors (020 7766 8866)
Links: Report (pdf) | IOD press release
Date: 2005-Aug
An article said that regional grants were cost-effective in employment terms: but expenditure was small relative to the scale of the problem, so an expansion of the grants might be desirable.
Source: Colin Wren, 'Regional grants: are they worth it?', Fiscal Studies, Volume 26 Number 2, Institute for Fiscal Studies (020 7291 4800)
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Jun
A paper examined geographical disparities in employment, education and crime; and suggested possible solutions.
Source: Stephen Gibbons, Anne Green, Paul Gregg and Stephen Machin, Is Britain Pulling Apart? Area disparities in employment, education and crime, Working Paper 05/120, Centre for Market and Public Organisation/University of Bristol (0117 954 6943)
Links: Working Paper (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
Two linked reports set out how and where the government's framework for regional economic performance was being implemented by the regional development agencies; the contribution the agencies were making; how they were using their growing freedoms and responsibilities; and the prospects for future progress.
Source: Realising the Potential of All Our Regions: The story so far, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236) | Realising the Potential of All Our Regions: The way forward, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Links: Report 1 (pdf) | Report 2 (pdf)
Date: 2005-Feb