An article said that greater attention needed to be given to incorporating regional priorities in national spending programmes, and developing a more coherent approach to regional strategy making.
Source: Sarah Ayres and Graham Pearce, 'Building regional governance in England: the view from Whitehall', Policy & Politics, Volume 33 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Oct
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on draft legislation (subsequently abandoned) to introduce elected regional assemblies.
Source: Government Response to the Committee's First Report of Session 2004-05 on the Draft Regional Assemblies Bill, First Special Report (Session 2004-05), HC 459, House of Commons Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Mar
A report said that England was largely 'invisible' to Whitehall civil servants, despite the big changes that had been brought about by devolution. But its concerns might become more important if parts of England became more vociferous in their demand for changes to the central funding formula for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Source: James Mitchell with Robert Hazell, Roger Masterman and John Rhodes, Devolution and the Centre, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: ESRC press release
Date: 2005-Feb
A report by a committee of MPs said that plans for regional government in England had not had the full support of all government departments. It said that the way in which any future elected regional assemblies reconciled and integrated their economic, social and environmental goals should be determined by the balance of resources available to them, rather than how their purposes were defined in the legislation. Legislation setting up regional assemblies should circumscribe their activities to avoid any confusion or overlap with the role of existing local government.
Source: The Draft Regional Assemblies Bill, First Report (Session 2004-05), HC 62, House of Commons Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jan