Communities and Local Government

• Cities and regions
• Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act

Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act

The Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 14 November 2002. The Act received Royal Assent on 8 May 2003.

The Act takes forward the commitment in the regional governance White Paper, Your Region, Your Choice (published in May 2002) to allow each of the English regions to establish an elected assembly, if approved in a referendum. This is the first of two pieces of primary legislation which will give effect to the Government's proposals for directly elected regional assemblies.

This Act enables those regions that want to hold a referendum to have that chance. Once at least one region has voted for an elected assembly, the Government intends to introduce a further Bill enabling assemblies to be set up.