§ The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (John Healey)"2004 Spending Review: Meeting Regional Priorities", is being published today and copies are available in the Libraries of the House.
This document meets the Treasury's commitment to set out how the 2004 Spending Review, announced to Parliament on 12 July 2004, responds to the issues and priorities identified in the regional emphasis documents jointly prepared by the Government office, regional development agency and regional chamber in each English region.
The document reaffirms the Government's commitment to improving regional economic performance. It summarises the next steps the Government is taking to ensure that the evidence base supports the Government's regional policy agenda, and sets out the SR04 response to input from the regions as well as plans for devolving further resources and responsibilities in every region.