Great North vote campaign starts

3 November 2003

A new campaign will help people in north west and north east England and Yorkshire and the Humber to decide if they want to vote 'yes' for an elected regional assembly.

People in the north west, north east and Yorkshire and the Humber will get the chance to vote on whether they want an assembly in referendums expected to be held next autumn.

These regions showed a high level of interest in holding a referendum in the Government's sounding exercise earlier this year.

An elected regional assembly would improve democracy, bring decision making closer to the people and champion regional interests and priorities. It would have responsibilities on issues like jobs, business and skills, housing and planning, culture, tourism and fire and rescue.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said:

"People in the north have a great opportunity to establish a new form of government that will bring choice, democracy and opportunity to their region. The information campaign I am launching today will ensure people are armed with the knowledge to choose whether they want to take this opportunity or not."

The 'Your Say' campaign includes a new leaflet setting out what an elected regional assembly would mean for the three northern regions, a website and promotional material. Exhibitions and visits are planned over the next year.

The Government has always accepted that regions would move at different speeds towards a referendum on elected regional government and that no area would be forced down that route if there were no demand for a referendum.

Mr Prescott said:

"The progression towards regional government in the northern regions in no way affects the Government's commitment to the development of a strong regional voice in all eight regions.

"The institutions that already exist - the Regional Chambers, the Regional Development Agencies and the Government Offices for the Regions - will continue to ensure that there is a distinctive regional voice from each region heard in Whitehall and elsewhere."