Readers’ poll: NWDA should stay
IF THE Conservative Party is elected at the upcoming election, it should hold fire on any plans to scrap the North West’s Regional Development Agency.
That’s the conclusion of respondents to the latest TheBusinessDesk.com readers’ poll.
Our two-week long survey found most business people (42%) in favour of keeping the Warrington-based organisation as it stands.
Just 30% of voters wanted to see the NWDA scrapped, while the remaining 28% suggesting that some changes were needed to its structure.
The future of the RDAs has so far proved to be a troubling subject for the Conservative Party.
Last year the Tories pledged to abolish the RDAs, along with other quangos, if they win power.
But their position has since softened. In December shadow communities secretary Caroline Spelman outlined a plan to increase the role of local authorities and replace development agencies with Local Enterprise Partnerships.
And last month party leader David Cameron said he would consider alternatives but RDAs could stay.
Shadow business secretary Ken Clarke then told business leaders in the North East that he wanted to crack down on the “last arms of John Prescott’s unwanted plans for regional governance”.
At an event in Preston last week, Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, said: “I concentrate on the future of our economy, not the future of the agency.”
What are your thoughts on this issue? Add your comments below.
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