HC Deb 20 January 2004 vol 416 cc1203-4W
Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 7 January 2004,Official Report, columns 399–400W, elected regional assembly for Yorkshire and the Humber, if he will place in the Library the evidence upon which his assertion was based. [149691]

Yvette Cooper

The Government are committed to promoting economic growth in Yorkshire and the Humber and an elected regional assembly is very much part of this framework. An elected assembly would clearly bring greater democratic accountability to the region because, for the first time, activities which are currently carried out by central government, its agencies and quangos, would become the responsibility of a democratically elected regional assembly. However it will be a matter of choice for the regional electorate as to whether they wish to have an elected regional assembly.

The White Papers "Your Region, Your Choice" and "Our Fire and Rescue Service" are already available in the Library of the House and fully set out our proposals for the regional responsibilities of elected regional assemblies, including the economic arguments, in favour.