Editing Regional development agency (section)

==Background==
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Regional Development Agencies Act 1998
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act to make provision for regional development agencies in England; to make provision about the Development Commission and the Urban Regeneration Agency; and for connected purposes.
| year                  = 1998
| citation              = 1998 c. 45
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 19 November 1998
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = {{ubli|[[Localism Act 2011]]|[[Public Bodies Act 2011]]}}
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = partially_repealed
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/45/enacted
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = yes
| UK-LEG_title          = Regional Development Agencies Act 1998
| collapsed             = 
}}
Regional development had been a concern of UK policymakers, particularly on the Left, since at least the 1970s.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fisk-jones-regional-development Trevor Fisk and Ken Jones, ''Regional Development'' (Fabian Tract, no. 417, December 1972)]</ref> After Labour came to power in the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 election]], eight RDAs were created on 25 November 1998 following the passing of the '''Regional Development Agencies Act 1998''' (c. 45).<ref>UK Legislation website – [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2952/article/2/made The Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1998]</ref> In subsequent years their scope and powers were enhanced, and a ninth agency, for London, was established in July 2000.<ref>UK Legislation website – [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/1173/article/2/made The Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2000]</ref> The statutory objectives of the RDAs were:
# to further economic development and regeneration;
# to promote business efficiency and competitiveness;
# to promote employment;
# to enhance the development and application of skills relevant to employment, and
# to contribute to sustainable development.

They took over responsibility from [[Government Offices for the English Regions|Government Offices]] for administering [[European Union]] regional development funds.