Today saw the signing of three new Multi-Area Agreements at a packed reception at Number 10 Downing Street. The Prime Minister Gordon Brown signed the agreements on behalf of the government with the Liverpool City Region, Leicester and Leicestershire, and Pennine Lancashire partnerships.

Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears welcomed the ambition in the MAAs and sought to underline the government’s commitment to them, saying “there is real passion and drive behind these Agreements”.

This commitment was backed up by impressive Ministerial attendance. Secretary of State for Innovation and Skills John Denham was there, along with Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw, and Regional Ministers Phil Hope and Beverley Hughes. Business Secretary Lord Mandleson, declared he was ‘an optimist about the success of MAAs because the principles behind them are based on good common sense”.

Representatives of the first tranche of Multi-Area Agreements signed in July 2008 were also present to witness the new agreements, as were those who are expected to be in the third tranche later this year, including the Olympic Legacy MAA team of Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest.

The focus of the Agreements was on equipping regions for economic regeneration. For example, the Pennine Lancashire Agreement aims to strengthen and connect their stretched rural economy. Their plan will use new powers to raise skills by 4per cent and help half a million people. They will create a ‘graduate into industry’ scheme at new Pennine Lancashire University campuses. To break down the economic barriers of rural areas they will develop better broadband networks and use new powers to redirect and pool funds to improve routes to Manchester, Leeds and local business areas. They will widen the M65 and develop new and improved rail services at Clitheroe-Manchester Raillink, Todmorden Curve and East Lancashire Railway.

Today’s event brings the number of signed Multi-Area Agreements to ten, and it was announced today that seven other areas are working towards MAAs to be signed later this year; North Kent, Birmingham, Hull, Fylde Coast, Milton Keynes, the West of England and the Olympic Boroughs.