Clause 34 - Regional development agencies
London Olympics Bill
5:30 pm
Don Foster (Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, Culture, Media & Sport; Bath, Liberal Democrat)
I entirely welcome the announcement that the Minister has just made about the setting up of the new nations and regions committee. I am delighted that Charles Allen will continue to head that body, in view of the excellent work that he has done.
I think that I heard the Minister say that he did not want the RDAs to be distracted by the Olympics from their core business. This is a fantastic opportunity for each of the nations and regions to benefit. The press release about the setting up of the new nations and regions committee says it is an opportunity to ensure that the UK as a whole benefits from the great opportunities created by staging the games in 2012. Is the Minister really telling the Committee that for the RDAs to get involved in using the Olympics to regenerate their area and develop economic, tourism and cultural opportunities will distract them from their core purpose? Surely this is a wonderful opportunity to develop that core purpose. I fail to understand what the Minister is saying.