HC Deb 28 November 2001 vol 375 cc957-8
6. Paddy Tipping (Sherwood)

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Government offices for the regions. [15975]

The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Mrs. Barbara Roche)

Government offices contribute to the delivery of the programmes of a number of different Departments. Those are set out in the corporate plan for the Government office network.

Paddy Tipping

Does the Minister agree that, when Government offices for the regions primarily deliver social policies, and regional development agencies primarily deliver the economic agenda, it is important that their aims and objectives fit closely? Is not the best way of ensuring that to work towards elected regional government across England as quickly as possible?

Mrs. Roche

If one looks at the different programmes, one certainly sees that some have an economic aspect and some a social aspect. It is clear that an area cannot be regenerated socially without economic regeneration A White Paper on regional governance will be published as soon as possible.