Regional Ministers

The East of England is lucky to have a combination of qualities that, put together, make it really special: 

• world famous research centres and universities 
• business excellence in 21st century sectors like IT and renewable energy 
• bustling cities full of retail and leisure outlets 
• cutting edge agricultural development 
• some of the most beautiful scenery; heritage and architecture in the UK

Rural or urban, coastal or land-locked, young or old: our region and our people, have a richness and a diversity which I am honoured to represent in Parliament.

Last year, I hosted, as the Minister for the East of England, a public meeting in Cambridge at which the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling and I met with local representatives and residents to discuss Building Britain's Future.

My main priority, as Regional Minister, is to minimise the negative impacts of the economic downturn in the East.  My other priorities - growth and skills - feed into this: we have to have the housing; the transport; the amenities and the knowledge that we need for the region thrive and prosper. The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games also offer us a once-in-a-generation chance to make an economic and social difference to the region and as the Games draw nearer, I am happy to champion our preparation and potential.

These pages will tell you more about me and my priorities. They will also give you details of how I am working with partners across the East of England to deliver them. I hope you find them both interesting and helpful.

Barbara Follett MP

East News (Regional Minister's Newsletter
Issue 4, March 2010 (4423kb; PDF)

Issue 3, December 2009 (1112kb; PDF)

Issue Two, August 2009 (1760kb, PDF)

Issue One, February 2009 (4630kb, PDF)

Latest News Patients to rate GP practices online (16 October 2009) Hardship fund brings real help in the East of England (16 October 2009) Regional Minister holds debate with the region's MPs (15 October 2009) Regional Minister visits newly named academy (9 September 2009) Miliband visits Ipswich to hear how East will build its way out of recession (24 July 2009) Follett visits Suffolk Family Carers to mark National Carers Week and highlight the Skills Pledge (22 June 2009)  Older news stories can be searched for in the GO-East news archive.

Regional Accountability
The Government believes that Regional Ministers should be accountable to Parliament. Both they and the Government's regional policy should be subject to formal and consistent parliamentary scrutiny.  

It is for Parliament to decide how to take forward regional accountability.  The Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons has been considering this issue and produced their report on 10 July 2008.  The Government response was published on 21 July 2008.  The Parliamentary debate and vote on the proposed new arrangements is not expected until October.