The Regional
Grand Committees have been created by Parliament to provide
greater democratic scrutiny at a regional level. Each Committee will
operate
like the House of Commons, giving MPs from across the region a forum to
debate the "state of the region" and put questions to the Regional
Minister.
They aim to
fill the gap in political regional accountability of RDAs and other bodies
at regional level, as identified by the Modernisation Committee. The
Government put forward the Grand Committee scrutiny topic, and this was
then voted on in the House.
Every MP
representing a constituency in the region is entitled to attend and
participate in the Regional Grand Committee meetings. All of the sittings
will take place in
the regions concerned and are open to the press and the public. A full
list
is below.
Unlike Select
Committees, the Regional Grand Committees will not take
evidence from external witnesses or produce a final report.
Forthcoming Sittings:
South
West Regional Grand Committee
Thursday 3
September, 10.30 a.m. Council Chamber, County Hall, Exeter
To debate the
response to the economic downturn: tackling unemployment;
transcript available.
Regional
Minister: Jim Knight MP
East of England Regional Grand Committee
Tuesday 8
September, 2.00 p.m. Public Borough Hall, Bedford
To debate the
priorities for a future regional strategy
Regional
Minister: Barbara Follett MP
East Midlands Regional Grand Committee
Wednesday 9
September, 2.00 p.m. Council Chamber, The Council House,
Nottingham
To debate:
Building Britain's Future; how the region will make the most of
the upturn;
transcript available.
Regional
Minister: Phil Hope MP
South East Regional Grand Committee
Monday 14
September, 10.30 a.m. Victoria Hall, Town Hall, Reading
In respect of
identifying the growth sectors of the South East economy and
ensuring that their growth is maximised;
transcript available.
Regional
Minister: Jonathan Shaw MP
North
East Regional Grand Committee
Friday 25
September, 10.30 a.m. Public Council Chamber, Town Hall,
Middlesbrough
To debate: tackling the recession and the regional economy .
Regional
Minister: Nick Brown
West Midlands Regional Grand Committee
Thursday 8
October, 6.30 p.m. Sandwell to be confirmed (TBC)
In respect of
the economy: building the West Midlands future
Regional
Minister: Ian Austin MP
North West Regional Grand Committee
Thursday 22
October 2 p.m. Liverpool, Venue TBC
To debate:
Building Britain's Future; the North West's response to the
Economic downturn
Regional
Minister: Phil Woolas MP
Yorkshire
and the Humber Grand Committee
Thursday 29
October, 3 p.m. Barnsley, Venue TBC
To discuss:
Responding to the down turn and planning the region's future
economy
Regional
Minister: Rosie Winterton MP
