Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill
10:30 am
Mr Nick Raynsford (Minister of State (Local and Regional Government), Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)
The hon. Gentleman tempts me, but I reiterate that the matter is one of choice and people in the regions will determine the outcome. The Government are clearly committed to devolution. That is our position. We have set out the options and I am confident that many regions will choose to adopt regional assemblies.
I do not hide from the fact that there is not much enthusiasm for devolution in some regions, however, which is why we are providing a permissive framework that will allow the option. It is not the Government's job to tell individual regions what to do. We will give them the choice and I expect some to take that choice because it is an attractive proposition. I know that the hon. Gentleman and his party support the principle.