'Meddling' regional office axed
THE Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber in Leeds is to be abolished, saving more than £7m a year in running costs.
Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said the "arbitrary" division of the country into regions was not "efficient, effective or popular" as he signalled the end of the office, which has 190 people on the payroll.
Far from being voices of their regions, the Government Offices – designed to co-ordinate the work of various departments – were "agents of Whitehall" interfering in local decision-making, he said.
However, the axe will not finally fall until after the spending review is complete this autumn, Mr Pickles said.