Press Release
For immediaterelease
Monday 16 June2003
Regional Assemblies - more money squandered?
asks IoD
The Instituteof Directors (IoD) said today in its response to the Deputy Prime Minister'sannouncement on Regional Assemblies that the Government should desist fromfurther constitutional changes and help the regions by tackling the failingpublic services and cutting red tape.
Ruth Lea, Headof the Policy Unit at the IoD, said:
"Theproposed Regional Assemblies are fundamentally flawed. They will bebureaucratic and costly - a typical assembly would employ 200 staff and cost25 million of taxpayers' money a year to run.
"We havea perfectly viable system of local government and creating Regional Assemblies,doubtless to accommodate the EU's vision of a constitutional "Europe ofthe Regions", is unlikely to be little more than an expensive exercise inchanging name plates on doors. It will be yet more money squandered.
"There isno doubt that the regions would appreciate help from the Government - but inthe form of better schools, better hospitals, better roads and better railways,to name but four."
Ends 16.6.03 No.176
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Notes to editors
1. The IoD set out its objections to Regional Assemblies in apolicy paper published in April 2003. RegionalAssemblies: Good for Business? can be downloaded from www.iod.com/policy/papers or isavailable from the IoD Press Office - tel.020 7451 3264 email. press@iod.com
2. TheInstitute of Directors is a non-party political independent organisation witharound 55,000 members. In addition to its wide range of business services, theIoD provides an effective voice to represent the interests of its members togovernment and key opinion-formers. It also brings the experience of businessleaders to bear on the conduct of public affairs.
Contact Points:
Ruth Lea, Head of thePolicy Unit, tel: 020 7451 3291; pager: 07626 241749
Richard Taylor, PressOfficer, tel: 020 7451 3264
mobile and out of hours: 07721 734886
David Marshall,Director of Public Affairs, tel: 020 7451 3263
mobile and outof hours: 0776 4883420
email: press@iod.com
web: www.iod.com