Written question asked by Jim Cunningham (Labour) on Monday, 2 December 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 December 2002. It was answered by Chris Leslie (Labour) on Monday, 9 December 2002 on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Question: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what powers elected regional assemblies will have to make changes to the delivery of public services.

Answer: Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria the Government will use to determine public support for regional assemblies; [83424] Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what powers elected regional assemblies will have to make changes to the delivery of public services. [85392] Mr. Leslie: Elected regional assemblies will be responsible for strategic priorities rather than for direct service delivery. But they will add value to service delivery by bringing coherence to, and improving the delivery of, the large number of strategies and partnerships that have developed at the regional level. Assemblies will set the framework for their region and co-ordinate activity on issues such as economic development, planning, housing and transport. An assembly's block grant will allow it to allocate spending according to what it considers as priorities for that region.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 85392; 396 c132W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Finance Functions Powers Regional planning and development Regional government
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk