SOUTH EAST WARNING ON REGIONAL DISPARITIES TARGET

THE ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WILL BE PUT AT RISK if the Government fails to invest in the South East. This is the warning from the South East England Regional Assembly.

The Assembly was responding to the recent Government commitment, following the recent Comprehensive Spending Review, to both improve the economic performance of all English regions and in the long-term reduce the persistent gap in growth rates between the regions.

The Assembly is concerned that the Government will shift investment and resources away from London and the South East in order to bring about the reduction in the gap of regional growth rates. Other regions have already begun to urge the Government to make regional investment decisions on the basis of development impact rather than grounds of excellence.

As well as this, the Government has also formed a task group, headed up by Sir Michael Lyons, to examine opportunities to relocate civil servants away from London and the South East. This is despite the fact that the South East has, per capita, a lower share of civil servants than many other English regions.

Nick Skellett, Chair of the South East England Regional Assembly, said; "The Assembly recognises the importance of improving the economic well-being of all the English regions. However, we feel very strongly that this should not be achieved at the expense of the South East. Investment cannot simply be taking away from one region and given to another in the hope that this will narrow the gap. Neglecting investment in the South East will put the region's competitiveness at risk which will, in turn, endanger the UK's economic performance as a whole."

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