Future of agency is in public's hands says top Tory (From Warrington Guardian)

Future of agency is in public's hands says top Tory

1:00pm Sunday 24th January 2010

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THE future of the NorthWest Development Agency (NWDA) lies in the hands of the public should the Conservative Party be elected to Government.

That was the message from Conservative Philip Hammond, who visited the headquarters of the organisation on Thursday to discuss the vision for regional funding.

Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, Mr Hammond revealed that agencies like the NWDA, a major employer in the town, have been singled out as possible targets to cut costs by the party should it get into power.

He said: “There will always need to be an economic development in a regional capacity.

“The question is whether the regional stance is the right way? Isn some areas it is the right way and on others it’s not.

“It will be for local people to decide what they want.”

The Runnymede and Weybridge MP added that in some areas one regional development agency would be suitable in smaller areas.

He met with staff from the NWDA and business leaders at the Centre Park offices.

Mr Hammond also talked about how a possible Conservative Government would go about cutting spending as part of its pledge to reduce the country’s deficit.

“The only area we have protected is the NHS,” he said.

“But in all other areas we have to look at everything we do and asking ourselves if there is a way we can do it cheaper without destroying the service.”

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