HL Deb 15 December 2003 vol 655 c104WA
Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will explain the statement made by the Deputy Prime Minister on the BBC1 programme "The Politics Show" on 2 November concerning regional assemblies that, "The boundaries have already been set for us". [HL160]

The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker)

My right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister simply stated a fact. Section 28 of the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003 set out that a region is a region specified in Schedule 1 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998. Parliament has already decided that these are the appropriate boundaries.