Yorkshire Forward, the new Regional Development Agency for Yorkshire & Humber, is calling Evening Press readers to help it formulate a strategy for the region.

The agency is charged with the task of drawing up a regional economic strategy to develop the region's prosperity and quality of life over the next few years.

It has drawn up a consultation document - Advancing Together Towards A World-Class Economy. This strategy will be submitted to the Government by October, with implementation likely to begin early in 2000.

Yorkshire Forward chairman Graham Hall said: "With a budget of around £170 million and a regional economy of £52 billion Yorkshire Forward has concluded the only way to truly succeed is by galvanising the efforts of every business and public organisation in the region around a set of clear, agreed priorities.

"The way that our region can gain a competitive edge in the global economy of the 21st century is by showing our unity of effort around those priorities. Yorkshire and the Humber can deliver 'joined up' action through real leadership, partnership and commitment of decision makers. We need to produce a dynamic strategy that is distinctive to this region."

Bearing this in mind the RDA wants answers to five basic questions on regional economic strategy:

1)Do you support the vision of the regional economy, and its critical outcomes?2) If so, why and, if not, why not?3) What are you five highest priorities for the regional economy?4) How can we best deliver the Regional Economic Strategy?5) How should we measure success?

Answers should be sent to Paul Munn, Yorkshire Forward, Westgate House, 100 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4LT or e-mail: paul.munn@yorkshire-forward.com or by fax on 0113 243 6282.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.