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'Scrapping regional assemblies is backward step' says Local Euro MP
July 19, 2007 11:00 AM
Scrapping regional assemblies is a backward step, local MEP Diana Wallis has said.
It was announced yesterday that regional assemblies, which provide democratic oversight of the spending of tens of million pounds on housing, transport and planning, are to be scrapped. From 2010, their role will be transferred to the business-led regional development agencies (RDAs), which will be given an enhanced role.
Liberal Democrat MEP for Yorkshire & the Humber said:
"Regional assemblies may have had their faults but they were a method of bringing together elected councillors from across the region to get a combined and agreed view.
"This role will now go to a London Minister and the unelected RDA. This is a backward step for regional accountability and democracy. The regional dimension is there, after all the appointment of a responsible minister clearly recognises this, but where is the local input? Perhaps it will be left to MEPs. At present we are the only ones to be directly elected on a regional basis!"
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