Select committees: Coalition slammed over regional plans

Labour's Shadow Leader of the Commons Rosie Winterton accused Ministers of "making it up as they go along" on regional policy after scrapping regional select committees – branded a "waste of money" by the Tories – and promising city ministers.

Ms Winterton, MP for Doncaster Central, called for the committees' re-introduction – whose creation under Labour turned to farce as they were boycotted by the other parties – and for the Government to give more details about their city minister plans.

"In Yorkshire, because of the effect of agriculture and tourism on their economies, rural areas have benefited from having a regional strategy and a regional body to help development, so why should they not get a Minister?" she said.

"Under the Labour Government, regional Ministers were able to speak for the whole region, but that just cannot happen under the current proposals. Will the city Ministers or senior MPs report to the House? Is their work to be scrutinised by members of some new City committees that the Government might have in mind?

"It really does look like the Government are making it up as they go along with a kind of botched DIY regional strategy, but what is really happening is that key commitments made by the last Government are being put at risk."

The Yorkshire and Humber select committee produced only one report before the election and faced questions over its credibility because it was made up of just five Labour MPs.

Ms Winterton's pleas were dashed by Leader of the Commons Sir George Young. He said: "They turned out to be a total waste of money, and, as I have said, I make no apologies for not re-introducing them."