It's not my question, but it's a good one. Andrew MacKinlay asked it in the House of Commons this afternoon. According to the Press Association report, this is how he put it:
I don't want to be unhelpful or unkind, but will you tell us what the regional ministers do … There is no scrutiny. I genuinely don't know precisely what they are supposed to do, and bearing in mind now we are told that there are some assistant regional ministers as well, those of us who are in the minority of never having been invited to do anything are beginning to wonder what we have done wrong.
This came up during questions to the communities secretary, Hazel Blears. There are nine ministers or whips who also double up as ministers for the English regions. (You can find their names on the Guardian's government list here.)
And the answer? It did sound a bit vague, but here's what Blears said:
You ask a very pertinent question, and you are right that it's important that there is wider awareness of the role of regional ministers. This is a fairly new introduction, but the regional ministers across the country, I think, have done some excellent work in the last few months of being regional champions for their area.
She did go on to say that "very shortly" there would be recognition of regional ministers with the establishment of regional select committees. This would create "the opportunity to question regional ministers". Asked when the committees would be set up, she said "very soon".
It doesn't sound riveting. But at least Mackinlay will get the chance to find out what regional ministers actually do.
