To ask the Leader of the House with reference to paragraph 20, Chapter 1, of Building Britain's Future, Cm 7654, what proposals she has for building upon the accountability of the system of regional government to regional Select Committees in the House. (283954)

Regional Select Committees began work in March and April this year. Three of the eight Committees are conducting inquiries that focus primarily on the work of regional development agencies; the others are conducting wider-ranging inquiries into the economic conditions in the region, which will touch on the work of regional development agencies.

The Government will continue to observe developments in the regional Select Committees as their inquiries progress.