1. A 'new tier' of paid politicians is not needed, nor has it been demonstrated that 'the will of the people' has any desire for elected regional government.

What we are witnessing is the implementation of Government policy which was part of a manifesto pledge. There is hardly any evidence that the North East public wants an Assembly.

There were only 713 responses nationally to the Government White Paper, and only 30 individuals from the North East were in favour of elected regional government.

Last year's Soundings Exercise by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on whether anyone wanted a referendum produced only 844 responses from the region out of a population of some 2,500,000,and that included those who were opposed to an Assembly.