RDA Costing £15 Billion Fail To Deliver
News that the Labour governments flagship Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) are failing to deliver has blown another hole in the credibility for the authorities. News that £15 billion of taxpayer's money has been spent on RDAs since 1999 - equating to £600 per UK household - has prompted some rather disparaging headlines in the press.
Research by the Taxpayers Alliances claims to show that local economies were performing much better before these 'quangos' were set up with prominent politicians often heavily involved in their local RDA. The report has also highlighted a very top heavy management structure which has seen some of the leading lights take home in excess of £100,000 each, lavish trips abroad for fact finding missions and more red tape than ever before. Rather than assist local economies it looks as though these RDAs have actually slowed employment growth and the development of local economies.
However, the government seems very much committed to continuing with the RDAs claiming that they continue to play a major part in local economies, despite evidence to the contrary. It has to be said that the idea of RDAs was sound but the implementation of the system is in danger of turning into another MPs expenses scandal.
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