Researchers examined whether increased policy devolution would lead to variation across the regions in the practice of regional planning, especially in the context of sustainable development.
Source: G. Haughton, Changes in Regional Planning: A new opportunity for sustainable development?, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2003-Nov
A think-tank report argued that significant regional disparities would persist without a more serious engagement with the 'power dynamics' that underlay a fundamentally unequal and undemocratic geography - one which made London and the south east region the centre of the nation.
Source: Ash Amin, Doreen Massey and Nigel Thrift, Decentering the Nation: Radical approach to regional inequality, Catalyst, available from Central Books (020 8986 4854)
Links: Summary | Catalyst press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Sep
A study found majority popular support for English regional assemblies across all eight regions.
Source: Charlie Jeffery, The English Regions Debate: What do the English want?, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Jul
The government announced that three regions - the north east, north west, and Yorkshire and Humberside - would hold referendums on the establishment of regional assemblies. Employers warned that the government was taking a risk by pressing ahead with referendums without safeguards in case of low turnouts.
Source: Press release 16.6.03, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 16.6.03, columns 21-39, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Press release 16.6.03, Confederation of British Industry (020 7395 8247)
Links: ODPM press release | Hansard | Charter88 press release | LGA press release | CBI press release
Date: 2003-Jun
A survey found that around three quarters of local councils believed that regional assemblies would take powers away from them, rather than from central government.
Source: Regional Governance Survey of local councils, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000)
Links: Report (pdf) | LGA press release
Date: 2003-May
A Bill to allow referendums to be held on whether regions wanted to have elected regional assemblies received Royal assent.
Source: Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Act | ODPM press release
Date: 2003-May
Business leaders argued that the government's plans to set up English regional assemblies amounted to a costly expansion of bureaucracy that would deliver no tangible benefits.
Source: Regional Assemblies: Good for Business?, Institute of Directors (020 7766 8866)
Links: Report (pdf) | IOD press release
Date: 2003-Apr
The government responded to a House of Lords committee report on the creation of devolved administrations. It said that devolution had been a 'great success', and had brought decision making closer to the people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Source: The Government s Response to the Second Report of the Select Committee on the Constitution, Session 2002-03 (HL Paper 28): Devolution - Inter-Institutional Relations in the United Kingdom, Cm 5780, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response (pdf) | HOL report
Date: 2003-Mar
Employers called on the government to adopt thresholds for voter turnout to ensure elected regional assemblies are only set up where there is a genuine demand. They said they remained deeply sceptical that elected assemblies would improve economic performance.
Source: Press release 12.3.03, Confederation of British Industry (020 7395 8247)
Links: Press release
Date: 2003-Mar
A report said that effective delivery of economic, social and environmental improvements in the English regions is under threat from poor communications between the regional and local level.
Source: Anne-Marie Brouder, Improving Regional to Local Connections, Forum for the Future (020 7251 6070) and Regional Futures Network
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-Feb
The government published a summary of responses to a 2002 White Paper on regional government in England. Most respondents were opposed to the general principle of elected assemblies in the English regions. But the Deputy Prime Minister said: 'There is a hunger for English regional government in several parts of the country'. The government published a proposed policy framework for the involvement of key stakeholders and their representatives in the work of regional assemblies.
Source: Summary of the comments and enquiries received following the publication of the White Paper on Regional Governance, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000) | Press release 24.2.03, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: Report | White Paper | Press release
Date: 2003-Feb
Proposals were made to bring about greater influence in European Union policy making for Europe s nations and regions. They included ensuring direct consultation with regional administrations before legislation is made; reinforcing the principle of subsidiarity through a treaty reference to the role of the regions; and strengthening the committee of the regions to give it a much stronger say in Brussels.
Source: Europe and the Regions, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (020 7008 1500), Scottish Executive and Welsh Assembly Government
Links: Paper | FCO press release | Scottish Executive press release
Date: 2003-Jan
A Bill to allow referendums to be held on whether regions want to have elected regional assemblies had its third reading.
Source: Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill (Programme) (No. 3), Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 23.1.03, columns 466-537, TSO
Links: Text of Bill | Hansard
Date: 2003-Jan