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.