§ Mr. Tony ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Government's policy on determining regional boundaries for the local delivery of services funded by central Government departments; and if he will make a statement. [100627]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe Government's policy is set out in the White Paper"Modernising government". There is a presumption that Departments and other public bodies should adopt the boundaries used by the Government Offices in the Regions unless there are strong overriding considerations for not doing so. Progress will be reviewed in 2002.