§ Lord Greavesasked Her Majesty's Government:
In what ways their proposals for elected regional assemblies will, in the words of the Deputy Prime Minister in his Statement of 16 June, reduce bureaucracy. [HL3514]
§ Lord RookerThe White PaperYour Region, Your Choice takes forward the Government's manifesto commitment to allow each of the English regions the opportunity, if they wish, to establish directly elected assemblies. These proposals will bring decision-making closer to the people and make government more efficient, more effective and more accountable.
Elected assemblies will have a democratic mandate to address the needs and priorities of their regions, and 92WA the powers and flexibility they need to allocate resources to meet regional priorities. They will be directly accountable in the region for decisions and activities currently made by central government or quangos. They will provide stronger scrutiny and improve co-ordination between existing bodies.
These proposals will not mean more bureaucracy. In regions where people vote to have an elected assembly, we will move to a wholly unitary local government to ensure that there are only two tiers of government below the national level.