THE debate over a regional assembly for Yorkshire has gone on-line - and North and East Yorkshire residents are invited to have their say.

The Government is currently inviting views on whether or not regions support a referendum on the possibility of directly elected regional government for Yorkshire and the Humber.

The Yorkshire and Humber Assembly, the organisation leading the debate in this region, has set up a special website - www.yhreferendum.info - for people to feed in their views and have a chance to 'vote' in an on-line ballot on whether they want a referendum.

The site links directly with Deputy Prime Minster John Prescott's office, which is seeking views from across the country on the issue. "We've already had a wide range of opinions on the issue and the website will give people a further chance to contribute to the debate currently going on," explained assembly chairman Peter Box.

"Views and votes gathered from the website will all be fed into the

soundings exercise and enable us to make sure this region's opinions are

passed onto the Government when it considers the issue.''

Meanwhile, some leading stakeholders in the debate over a Yorkshire and Humber regional assembly will take part in a parliamentary briefing on the issue later this month.

The meeting is scheduled for Portcullis House, London, on February 12, and will see stakeholders make the case for an early referendum on any assembly.

Chaired by MP Gerry Sutcliffe, the meeting will hear from Lord Haskins, chief executive of Northern Foods, and Jane Thomas, director of the Campaign for Yorkshire.

Trenton Wiggin, of the Black Minority Ethnic Forum, and Cliff Williams, chairman of the regional Trades Union Council, could also attend.

The deadline for views on the referendum to reach the Deputy Prime Minister's office is March 3.

You can also send your views to Free Literature, PO Box 236, Wetherby LS23 7NB; or telephone (0870) 1226236; or go to website www.regions.odpm.gov.uk/governance/prebill/index.htm.

Updated: 10:26 Wednesday, February 05, 2003