South East England Development Agency and the regional economic strategy : first report of session 2008-09, [Vol. 1]: Report, together with formal minutes

Parliament has established the Regional Select Committees to provide accountability for those regional bodies that make decisions affecting millions of people throughout England.

The responsibility of the South East Regional Committee is to make sure these bodies are accountable to Parliament.

This is the first report ("HCP 516-I, Session 2008-09", ISBN 9780215540980) from the South East Regional Committee and inquires into the role of the South East Development Agency (SEEDA) and its Regional Economic Strategy.

The Committee commends SEEDA's emphasis on global competitiveness, smart growth and sustainable prosperity and its role as a single framework setting a long term vision for the region.

The Committee urges SEEDA to focus on the disparities within the South East and support economic growth.

For the Regional Economic Strategy to work, greater support is required from partner organisations.

The Regional Assembly was dissolved in March 2009, and the role of local authorities will now come through the South East England Leaders' Board, who are now joining SEEDA to form the South East Partnership Board and will be working together in developing the Regional Economic Strategy. The Committee also notes that SEEDA has the least funding in comparison to other RDAs, and believes the RDA funding formula should be re-examined so that greater investment is directed towards the South East.