Supplementary memorandum from the Regional
Development Agencies (FT 38A)
John Edwards Chief Executive of Advantage West
Midlands gave verbal evidence on behalf of the nine English Regional
Development Agencies to the session held on Wednesday 16 January
2008. During that session Graham Stringer MP asked "How much
in total have the RDAs spent on encouraging freight to go by rail".
Mr Edwards did not have the figures available and agreed to forward
these to the committee.
Following consultation with regional colleagues
it has been identified that the RDAs have contributed approximately
£24 million to date on a range of freight related activities.
This total sum includes both revenue and capital funding for activities
such as research to inform the development of regional freight
strategies, feasibility studies for gauge enhancement and capital
works to deliver increased capacity.
The Department of Transport is the Government's
delivery agency responsible for delivering transport accessibility
and connectivity. The RDAs role is to lead the economic development
of their region, working alongside a wide range of public, private
and voluntary sectors partners to help the region prosper. Therefore
RDA contributions to freight related projects reflects the economic
benefits, rather than the transport benefits delivered by the
project. The RDAs fund projects which have clearly identifiable
economic benefits and enable the delivery of the regional economic
objectives as set out in the individual Regional Economic Strategies
(RESs).
As reflected in our earlier written evidence
the freight and logistics sector is a proven contributor to, and
enabler for, regional economic activity delivering jobs and the
opportunity to improve competitiveness and inward investment through
improved connectivity. As a major aspect of the supply chain,
the performance of the sector impacts directly on the ability
of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers to compete
in the global market place. The efficiency of freight transport
is directly linked to improvements in productivity which in turn
supports and promotes business competitiveness across the English
Regions.
The development of Regional Freight Strategies
supports the improved efficiency both across transport networks,
helping to reduce congestion, and operational business practice
of freight and logistics operators. Rail freight gauge enhancements
support modal shift from road to rail thereby contributing to
the delivery of low carbon and sustainable development objectives
included in the RESs.
The majority of the projects supported by the
RDAs are delivered through a partnership arrangement with key
regional stakeholder and delivery agencies.
February 2008
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