PROPOSALS for elected regional assemblies in England will be put forward shortly by the Government in a white paper.

But there is no call for one in the South East, according to the leader of Buckinghamshire County Council, David Shakespeare.

Last week he met Government minister Barbara Roche, John Prescott's deputy, in London to talk about regional government.

"John Prescott is enthusiastic about this and intends to see it through," said Cllr Shakespeare.

He said the new tier of Government was likely to be like the Greater London Assembly, with about 25 to 30 members but without the Mayor.

It would not be able to raise money through a regional tax, so might rely on Government grants, or on top-slicing money from existing councils.

He described the whole thing as a bit of a dog's breakfast, but said the Government was determined to get something in place before the next election so there could be no going back.

The first place to take up elected regional government would almost certainly be North East England where the existing, unelected, regional assembly, is already drafting a constitution.

Elected assemblies would have responsibility for regional planning and transport, said Cllr Shakespeare.

Mrs Roche had not mentioned either education or social services, which are county responsibilities, so he said he was hopeful there would be no more plans to axe county councils.

"Last time was a bruising experience. The county was fighting for survival when it should have been doing other things," he said.

Elected regional governments will not be set up unless there is a referendum in favour and unless the existing local councils are mostly unitary authorities.

This is because a regional assembly would add a fourth tier of local government in areas with parish, district and county councils.

"The South East doesn't qualify on the unitaries and there is no strong regional identity here," said Cllr Shakespeare.

Cllr Shakespeare who is chairman of the non-elected South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) said SEERA might hold a referendum to get a no vote.