Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied by the arrangements whereby his Department is represented in some regions by regional directors who head more than one region; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Patrick JenkinSince 1981, the regional directors in the Yorkshire and Humberside and the West Midlands regional offices of the Departments of the Environment and Transport have combined their tasks with heading the Northern and the East Midlands regional offices respectively. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and I have recently reviewed these arrangements and have concluded that they are not satisfactory. This implies no criticism of the officials who have served as regional directors. But experience has shown that each regional office needs the full-time commitment of its director if it is to serve fully the needs of the two Departments, local government and the business community.
We have therefore decided to appoint Mr. Alastair Balls as regional director in the Northern region in Newcastle and Mr. Peter Hewitt as regional director of the East Midlands region in Nottingham. The present regional directors of the Yorkshire and Humberside region and of the West Midlands region will remain in post. These new arrangements will take effect from 1 January 1984.