FAQs

What is a Regional Minister?

Regional ministers were appointed by the Prime Minister to provide a clear sense of strategic direction for the nine English regions and to help strengthen their links with central government. The Governance of Britain Green Paper, published in July 2007, provided Regional Ministers with the following specific objectives:

1. to advise the Secretary of State for Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the approval of regional strategies and appointment of Regional Development Agency (RDA) chairs and boards;
2. to represent regional interests in the formulation of central government policy relevant to economic growth and sustainable development in areas that have not been devolved to the RDAs
3. to facilitate a joined up approach across government departments and agencies to enable the effective delivery of the single regional strategy
4. to champion the region at high level events and with regard to high profile projects (including through a programme of regional visits); and
5. to represent the Government with regard to central government policy at regional committee hearings and at parliamentary debates focused specifically on the region.

This means that regional ministers have the role of being an advocate and a representative of central government in the regions:

• working to ensure that government policy takes accounts of the differing needs of the each of the regions; whilst
• promoting national policies regionally, making central government more visible in the regions and raising awareness of the political system.

To achieve this, Regional Ministers have to provide leadership on specific issues that affect their region, so much of their work is focussed around bringing together key stakeholders, local services and different arms of government at important times for the region. 

How long have there been Regional Ministers?

The role of Regional Minister was introduced in June 2007 as part of the Governance of Britain reforms. 

Who is the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber?

The Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber is the Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP. In addition to being Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber she is also lead Minister for regional economic development and co-ordination, at two Departments - Business, Innovation and Skills, and Communities and Local Government.

There are regional ministers in all nine English regions.  A full list is below:  

Minister	Region	Department
Barbara Follett	East	Communities and Local Government
Phil Hope	East Midlands	Department of Health
Tessa Jowell	London	Cabinet Office
Nick Brown	North East	Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury and Chief Whip
Phil Woolas	North West	Joint brief with HM Treasury and Home Office
Jonathan Shaw	South East	Department for Work and Pensions
Jim Knight	South West	Department for Work and Pensions
Ian Austin	West Midlands	Communities and Local Government
Rosie Winterton	Yorkshire & the Humber	Joint brief with Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Communities and Local Government

 

 

 

 

 

 

How are Regional Ministers held to account?

Regional Ministers are, like all ministers, scrutinised by MPs and accountable to parliament. However the Government also believes that both Regional Ministers and the Government's regional policy should be subject to formal and consistent parliamentary scrutiny.

MPs debated in parliament how to take forward regional accountability and they agreed enhanced parliamentary scrutiny of Government work in the regions was needed. This decision has given rise to the establishment of Regional Select and Grand Committees in all regions.

The role of Regional Select Committees is to look at how national policy is delivered in our region and examine the work of regional bodies, such as Yorkshire Forward (the Regional Development Agency) and the Government Office for Yorkshire and The Humber.

The Yorkshire and the Humber Select Committee members are:

Eric Illsley - Chair (Labour, Barnsley Central)
Clive Betts (Labour, Sheffield Attercliffe)
Ian Cawsey (Labour, Brigg and Goole)
Shona McIsaac (Labour, Cleethorpes)

The role of Regional Grand Committees is to bring together all MPs from the region to consider the “state of the region” and question Regional Ministers about their work.

What powers does a Regional Minister have?

Regional Ministers are powerful influencers of regional policy who work with politicians, officials and colleagues from all sectors to get beneath the headlines and into the detail of the problems facing the region – and to look for the solutions.

They are also regional champions who work with colleagues within Whitehall through the Council of Regional Ministers to champion the needs of the region and to ensure that the region’s voice is heard – and to promote the region’s successes.

How long is a Regional Minister appointed for?

The Regional Minister is appointed by the Prime Minister in the same way all Government Ministers are. Ministers are not appointed for a fixed period they are appointed at the discretion of the Prime Minister.

Since, June 2007 two MPs have held the office of Minister for Yorkshire, Rt Hon Caroline Flint MP and Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP. 

How is the Regional Minister supported in the region?

The Regional Minister is supported by Civil Servants at Government Office for Yorkshire and The Humber. She also works very closely with Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency for Yorkshire and the Humber as well as other key regional partners.

The cost of supporting the Regional Minister is met from existing resource allocations in the Minister’s home department and the Government Office Network.

How can I get in touch with the Regional Minister?

You can contact the Regional Minister either by email at mo.yh@goyh.gsi.gov.uk or by writing to:

Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber
Government Office for Yorkshire and The Humber
Lateral
8 City Walk
Leeds
LS11 9AT

Where has the Regional Minister visited?

Rosie Winterton MP has been Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber since January 2008 and since then she has visited people, communities, businesses, schools, museums, farms, and projects all over the 15,400sq km that is Yorkshire and the Humber. 

Rosie Winterton says: “Getting out and about helps me to appreciate the enormous contribution our region makes towards the prosperity of the nation and also to understand the challenges that we face.”