News Release : 12 July 2001

UK ECONOMY AT RISK WITHOUT INVESTMENT IN SOUTH EAST, ASSEMBLY WARNS GOVERNMENT

THE SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY yesterday called on the Government to be sure to back its winning regions if it wants the UK's economic success to continue.

The Assembly's annual meeting in Woking heard how the South East makes by far the largest net contribution to the UK Government's finances - £17billion a year, compared to just £10bn from second place London.

Assembly members warned that the South East economy was in danger of seizing up through insufficient investment in infrastructure and in skills, putting at risk the economic performance of the whole country.

Assembly Chair Cllr David Shakespeare said: "We can understand that the Government needs to support those regions of the country whose economies are lagging behind; we in the South East support the goal of a more even development of the UK."

"But the South East is the engine of the country's economy: we urgently need investment to tackle chronic traffic congestion, poor public transport networks, skills shortages and the regeneration of many of our coastal towns and cities. You don't speed up the train by slowing down the engine."

More than 100 South East stakeholders from local authorities, economic, social and environmental organisations, as well as members of the public and the media attended yesterday's Annual General Meeting of the Assembly.

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
   
   
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
   
   
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
   
   
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
   
   
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007

Copyright © 2004 SEERA Limited. All rights reserved.