§ Mr. Keith BradleyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what areas of policy will be(a) devolved from central Government to regional government and (b) transferred from local authorities to regional government; [158906]
(2) when he will publish the details of the policy areas that will be transferred to regional government. [158907]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe vast majority of elected regional assembly powers will be devolved from central Government. These were set out in the Regional Governance White Paper, "Your Region, Your Choice Revitalising the English Regions". Assemblies will take over responsibility for areas of economic development, housing, planning, transport, culture, the environment, public health and sustainable development.
As my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Phil Hope) has made clear previously, responsibility for fire will pass to elected assemblies as announced in the Fire White Paper, "Our Fire and Rescue Service".