ELECTED GOVERNMENTS FOR THE ENGLISH REGIONS

Early day motion 416, tabled 8 March 2001 by Austin Mitchell (Labour). Signed by 76 members.

That this House, in celebrating the first anniversary of the Campaign for English Regions' fight for elected governments in the English regions, urges Her Majesty's Government to put forward devolution proposals to give to these regions which want regional government, the same ability to manage their own destinies which has been conceded to Scotland; points out that there is a growing demand from the regions for government to be brought closer to the people, that the plethora of regional bodies, government offices and development agencies which has already been developed in the regions needs to be made democratically accountable, and that several regions such as the North, the North West, Yorkshire and Humberside, the West Midlands and the South West have demonstrated their desire for regional government by setting up regional assemblies or holding regional conventions, or both; and feels that their efforts deserve to be rewarded by allowing those regions which wish to do so, to move forward to elected regional governments.

Signatures by party: Labour 60, Liberal Democrat 9, Labour/Co-operative 6, UUP 1.