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23rd
December
2003
Dudley's Disquiet over Regional Assemblies Dudley North MP Ross Cranston has spoken of his dismay, after an internet poll he ran revealed that a large majority of his consituents oppose the concept of a Regional Assembly for the West Midlands. A member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Regional Affairs, Mr. Cranston is broadly in favour of an Assembly of the type recently established in Wales and Scotland. He told us: “Devolved Government has clearly had benefits in Scotland and Wales as important decisions are made at a level that is closer to ordinary people than Whitehall. I can therefore see how the West Midlands and indeed all the English regions could benefit from having their own assemblies. “However, the result of my internet poll on regional assemblies was very disheartening in that very few people indeed were interested in this issue. I also invited written comments from my constituents. The overwhelming majority were opposed to an assembly. Many people felt an assembly would make decisions less democratic, take power from local authorities and cost a lot of money while delivering very little benefit.” The MP has taken up these results with Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford: “The Minister replied that only one area of responsibility, the fire authority, would be taken from local government" said Mr. Cranston. "All the other areas of responsibility would come from central Government, agencies or quangos. In some areas decisions currently made nationally would made locally and in other areas decisions currently made by civil servants would be made by elected representatives. “Obviously the key issue of value for money is one that no-one can answer for certain until the first regional assembly is up and running. The Minister believes that if there are yes votes in a number of the northern regions, there will be a growing clamour in the west midlands and in other regions not to be left behind. If the assemblies are shown to provide real benefits then my voice would certainly be part of that “clamour”.” --> |
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