§ Lord Peyton of Yeovilasked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment has been made of arrangements for co-ordinating government policy towards the South West.
The Lord Privy Seal (Viscount Cranborne)The Government Office for the South West already plays a valuable role in ensuring close dialogue between government and the people, businesses and local representative bodies of the South West. But this is the largest English region, and it has distinct identities and needs. In recognition of this, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister has asked the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration, Mr. Curry, to act as a central co-ordinator of government policy towards the South West. Working with colleagues in the relevant government departments, Mr. Curry will take a close interest in the broad issues affecting the whole of the South West, but will focus particularly on the concerns and interests of the peninsular counties of Devon and Cornwall.