Confusion over Conservative development agency plans

I have a few pangs that I'm not in Manchester with the Tories.

Now the man flu has subsided, I could now cope with another dose of delegates.

But my colleague Mark Denten is doing a sterling job.

And in the interests of balance, he's supplied me with the following info about his hotel:

Biscuits: "Quality" Shortbread.

TV Channels: At least 12!

Corby Trouser Press: present and available.

Sounds like Manchester has done him proud.

Anyway, he and we do appear to be getting some hints from Manchester of what a Conservative government might mean.

But there's one policy that is confusing me, and this has echoes of the Lib Dem gathering too - what are they going to do with the regional development agencies?

The Tories are philosophically hostile to them, and talk a lot about getting rid.

But the party's local government shadow, Caroline Spelman, says if the North East wants to keep its development agency, it can.

The question is, how will they determine whether the North East wants it or not?

And what about Yorkshire Forward, and the North West Development Agency - can they be saved too?

Both have their supporters as well as their detractors.

And come to that, what sort of funding would any surviving agency have under the Conservatives?

And what would people in the South or Midlands make of it if the North East has an agency, with some form of budget, shouting up for the area, while they have nothing?

It's something the Politics Show will be talking about this weekend.

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