Clause 26 - Regions
Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill
8:55 am
Mr John Butterfill (Bournemouth West, Conservative)
With this it will be convenient to take the following:
Amendment No. 90, in
clause 26, page 13, line 5, at end insert—
'( ) The Secretary of State may by order vary the regional boundaries set out in the Regional Development Agencies Act (1998).
( ) It is immaterial whether more or fewer regions are created as a result.'.
New clause 3—Regional boundaries—
'(1) Before making any order under Parts 1, 2 or 3 the Secretary of State shall—
(a) invite all local authorities in England to submit to him proposals for the creation of regions for the purposes of this Act; and
(b) invite such other persons and bodies as appear to him to represent relevant interests throughout England to submit to him proposals for the creation of regions for the purposes of this Act; and
(c) upon receipt of submissions in response to paragraphs (a) and (b) invite the Electoral Commission to comment on the submissions and to make proposals to the Secretary of State for the creation of regions for the purposes of this Act having regard to—
(i) the desirability of all regions being of approximately equal size; and
(ii) the need to reflect the identities and interests of local communities; and
(d) publish the proposals made to him by the Electoral Commission under paragraph (c); and
(e) make an order creating regions for the purposes of this Act, having regard to the proposals published under paragraph (d).
(2) For the purposes of this section ''relevant interests'' means professional bodies, trades unions, voluntary organisations, faith groups, political parties, business organisations and community organisations.'.