The Boundary Committee for England has issued proposals for the way three new regional assemblies will work ahead of referendums later this year. The new structures will affect people in the North West, North East and Yorkshire-and-Humber if they vote for regional assemblies later this year.
Voters in Cheshire, County Durham, Cumbria, Lancashire, Northumberland and North Yorkshire will also get to vote on the Boundary Committee's suggestions on how their current system of district and county councils can be turned into a unitary authority.
The final recommendations are subject to approval by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and any referendums would probably be held in November.
What do you think of the Boundary Committee's proposals? Will regional assemblies for England make a difference? Or will they be little more than expensive talking shops with no real power?
This debate has now closed. Thank you for your comments.
The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we received.
I don't think anyone can accurately assess the impact of a regional government until it actually happens. It's worth a trial though, and if it goes well then I'm all for it. Yorkshire and some of the other counties are big enough and far enough removed from this country's centre of power for regional government to be worth a try.
Rob Lonsdale, Leeds, UK Regional assemblies cannot work since every politician in this country feels he/she has a divine right to dictate every aspect of our daily lives. Until power is removed from the politicians, and wielded by the electorate, our country can never correctly be described as a democracy.
Brian Langfield, Yorkshire
What the government doesn't tell you is that this is all part of a divide and rule policy of the EU. Ultimately it will disintermediate our national government and the regions will deal directly (and less effectively) with the EU. Quite apart from sovereignty issues, this will result in more government, higher taxes, more bureaucracy, and more tiresome regulation and legislation.
Kevin T, Alton, UK
Well no problem there, it only affects the North. So we in the South will have to pay for this folly, no change there then.
Martin, UK
Assemblies will be sold on the 'devolution was good for Wales and Scotland' and must therefore be just what England wants. I dare say that we too would warm to one assembly called England with its own parliament so that we too would be run as a nation of the UK. How many Scots would vote to lose the Scottish Parliament to be run as three regions called perhaps Highland, Lowlands and Borders? Not many I'll bet.
Richard, England
Done properly, these regional assemblies could prove a powerful force. But no doubt they will end up as talking shops. Also fewer people are voting in any elections now, than at any other time. How can the representatives purport to be really speaking for people, when so few even bother to get out and vote?
Antony Forst, Stoke on Trent I'd prefer it if the Labour government simply pronounced itself the regional assembly for London and the South East and left the rest of us to our own devices.
NK, UK
We have more than enough politicians and their expensive entourage already. We should be reducing the size of government not increasing it, starting with the corrupt crown in Brussels.
Ian, Bradford, UK
What will the regional assemblies do:
(a) devolve power from Westminster,
(b) absorb power from the local councils, or
(c) squeeze in-between as some kind of buffer between central and local government?
If it's (a) then that could be a good thing, if it's (b) then to whose advantage would it be? And if (c) then they're a waste of time.
Paul Rowlands, United Kingdom
No government will ever give up power, so this will just be more bureaucracy and expense.
Paul Weaver, London, UK
If real power is given to these new assemblies it's great news, but I suspect that Mr Blair won't be very willing to hand "power to the people". And why is the South always left out of these ideas for reform?
Chris Barton, Reading, UK
 |  Another useless costly gravy train  |
Another useless costly gravy train. On the plus side, if I could get a job there I would be laughing, mega pension, no chance of redundancy, job security, fantastic new expensive building to work in. Where do I apply?
Mark, Middlesbrough, UK
Another example of Labour fixing what isn't broke. I'm sure that those people who enjoy medalling with our lives think it's a great idea. Meanwhile other people wonder why if we get a referendum on something like this we don't get one on a European Constitution! I have a local councillor, a local MP, a Euro MP and finally a PM. If you want another layer of bean counters I'll vote for it - only if it gets rid of the bloke at the top!
Richard, Leeds
Regional governments could well make a difference, if people can be bothered to vote in the elections for them. Unfortunately, though, we are seeing an increasing level of apathy towards elections of all kinds in this country. This means that regional assemblies, like local authorities, are likely to be dominated by the usual mutual-admiration society "local dignitaries" and political extremists.
David Hazel, Fareham, UK
I think it is a great idea. Why should only Greater London, which is already over-represented and the richest area of the country have a regional body to encourage investment?
Chris Q, Bradford, England
| I am beginning to wonder about the point of central government |
As regards a North West assembly, we used to have one. It was called Lancashire before it was carved up into a small Lancashire and Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cumbria in the 60's and early 70's so political parties could create themselves more seats. Personally if this goes ahead I am beginning to wonder about the point of central government, and if the assembly will be used as a scapegoat for their failed policies because power is 'devolved' to the regional seats?
Chris, Preston, UK I think there should be an English assembly like Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. A federal United Kingdom would be much more balanced and less confusing.
Terence, Leeds
There is no chance of Westminster devolving anything that really matters so these regional assemblies will just be expensive talking shops like the one in Wales.
Richard Read, London, UK
One side result from this review is it puts paid to the misnomer that the County of Lancashire as administered from Preston is actually the County of Lancashire, rather than an admin area. Since 1996, administrative Lancs comprises of 12 districts covering a small part of the actual county (which still legally exists). Perhaps post this review, the name Lancashire will be reserved for the area covered by the historic county. Good move to bring Furness and Cartmel back into admin from Lancaster as well.
Chris, Bolton, Lancs
Why can't we have this in the West Midlands? Sounds great to me.
Andrew M, Walsall, UK
Lancaster City Council is a nightmare - we're still paying for the Mr Blobby fiasco through our council tax - and that was nearly 10 years ago. God help us if they get any kind of representation on any regional assembly for this area that has any power.
Janet Bunting, Morecambe, UK
Right now the level of bureaucracy and efficiency in the public sector needs better organisation and monitoring. Adding another level of it will just waste public money employing a level of managers, office personnel, councillors which could be better spent elsewhere.
David, UK
| It's just another excuse for another layer of government |
I recently attended a soundings hearing and it didn't instil much confidence. The MP had a very clever way of getting around and avoiding questions. Personally, I think it's just another excuse for another layer of government that will eventually undermine the local councils.
Mia, North East, UK Yet another useless layer of government that we will have to pay for with increased taxes. On a side note, why is the Labour Party so eager to weaken the UK government by signing away powers to various regional bodies and the EU?
Arron Clements, UK
No amount of changes can make any difference. All levels of government are corrupt, self serving and take no account of the will of the people. It's hardly surprising that we don't bother to vote.
Keith, UK
Splendid, just what we need. More seats on the gravy train.
A. Sweeting, Leicester, UK
Yes it will make a difference. Council tax will go up, there will be massive confusion and disruption until regional assemblies emerge which will try to become little Westminsters, forgetting local needs and arguing for a say in national issues. Although it is not perfect, the current situation works extremely well most of the time.
Felix, Manchester
It should make things more efficient. But it wouldn't surprise me if it cost more.
David R, Plymouth
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