News Release

16th November 2001

LABOUR THREAT TO ABOLISH STAFFORDSHIRE AND OTHER SHIRE COUNCILS

The Government's plans to abolish England's shire counties were exposed this week by Labour Minister, Lord Falconer. Questioned by Conservatives in Parliament, he conceded that Government plans for regional government will mean the abolition of shire counties - including Staffordshire County Council.

"Labour's plans for regional assemblies will mean the abolition of some of England's historic shire counties, like Staffordshire. Rather than devolving responsibilities to local communities across the west midlands, Labour - backed by the Lib-Dems - are going to transfer power to a new tier of regional politicians based in Birmingham. Local people in Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and the other counties will have far less say over issues like planning, housing and local transport.", says Michael Fabricant. "Worse still, such restructuring could cost the poor old council payer over £50 million in Staffordshire alone, and a new regional council tax may be introduced to pay for these new politicians. As ever, taxpayers' money will be wasted on bureaucracy and red tape, instead of improving our hospitals, schools, and policing. I do not believe there is any demand for a Regional Parliament in Birmingham."

On the 12th November, Lord Falconer, Minister for Housing and Planning, told the House of Lords, "I do not know the precise estimate of cost in relation to expenditure on a regional assembly... As to whether there should be two-tier authorities, in some cases it is not right that there should be. That is something which needs to be looked at particularly in the context of where there is a regional assembly. If one has a regional assembly and two other tiers that looks to be too many" (taken from Hansard). During the last local government reorganisation, Humberside County Council (the Deputy Prime Minister's local council) spent £53 million (1999 figures) in one-off reorganisation administrative costs.