Memorandum by Commander Bryan G Smalley
RD DL RN (RG 11)
1. EXPLANATION
OF THE
RELEVANCE OF
MY SUBMISSION
1.1 I served in the Royal Navy from 1947-70
during the founding of the North Atlantic Treaty and the period
of the Cold War with the Warsaw Pact countries. On retirement
I served in the Royal Naval Reserve based at Maritime Headquarters,
Northwood Middlesex. On reaching RNR retiring age in 1986 I was
appointed as the Naval Officer in Charge, Great Yarmouth which
was a dormant appointment giving me responsibility for assisting
in the planning and exercising of the Home Defence arrangements
of the United Kingdom. The post ceased to exist in 1996 when the
Government determined that there was no longer a threat to homeland
security.
1.2 Additional to my 49 years service connected
with the Royal Navy I also served as an elected member of East
Herts District Council for 15 years and Hertfordshire County Council
for 12 years.
1.3 Apart from the above experience, I am
just an ordinary member of the electorate who is concerned about
the way this country is being governed.
2. A SUMMARY
OF MY
CASE
The EU's objective is to divide member countries
into regions
2.1 From time to time there have been plans
for a type of regional government in this country but none of
these schemes have involved the government giving up its entire
responsibility for governing the country. Although it will not
be admitted by any of the main political Parties, the current
plan to force Regionalisation on the United Kingdom is part of
the EU's long term plan to take over the government of this country.
2.2 There is already a strong opposition
to any form of regional government because it is imposing a less
democratic process than that to which we are accustomed. That
is the concern that needs to be addressed before the six issues
which the committee is being asked to examine. However there are
some points which may be worth considering. The establishment
of one Local Authority controlling more cities or large towns
might be one outcome, but that arrangement already exists. The
term Metropolitan Area is adequate. We should arrange our local
government to suit our own purposes not those directed by the
EU.
3. A HISTORY
OF THE
REGIONALISATION PROCESS
3.1 The country has been divided into regions
from time to time even before we joined the EEC/EU. During the
1939-45 war, certain administrative aspects were organised on
a regional basis but this did not impinge on any part of our traditional
democratic processes.
3.2 As the cold war developed after 1945,
there was a possibility that London could become a nuclear target.
If that happened many of our national institutions might be destroyed.
As a result, plans were drawn up for the country to be governed
on a regional basis from underground headquarters which were built
and which were exercised from time to time. A cabinet minister
was appointed to take charge of each regional HQ. But this was
a temporary plan to deal with a specific threat. The intention
was to return to central government as soon as possible after
such an attack.
Treaty of Rome which was signed in March 1957
3.3 However, it has been Labour Party policy
for several decades to introduce regional government into this
country, but that may have been as a result of knowing that this
had already been introduced by the Treaty of Rome which was signed
in March 1957.
Objectives of the EEC
3.4 The establishment of the EEC and the
creation of the Common Market was declared to have two objectives.
The first was to transform the conditions of trade and manufacture
on the territory of the Community. The second, saw the EEC as
a contribution towards the construction of a political Europe,
and constituted a step towards the closer unification of Europe.
Preamble to the Treaty of Rome introduces regions
3.5 This led to the creation of the EU which
had seven objectives which were laid down in the preamble to the
Treaty of Rome. They included the objective to: "strengthen
the unity of their (members) economies and to ensure their harmonious
development by reducing the differences existing between the various
regions and the backwardness of the less-favoured regions."
The term regions went unnoticed in Britain. Observers merely thought
it was a reference to general but undefined areas.
"First Commission Communication on Regional
Policy" 1965
3.6 It only became clear that the EU intended
dissembling national governments by dividing them into regions
when in 1965 it issued its "First Commission Communication
on Regional Policy". But this again went unnoticed in the
British Press and the public were kept uninformed. (Annex "A"—Major
Steps Towards a Europe of the Regions and Cities in an Integrated
Continent.)
Redcliffe-Maude Royal Commission—1966
3.7 Although regionalisation was being pursued
in Britain by the Labour Government before the 1965 Communication
on Regional Policy, the document probably encouraged the Prime
Minister, Harold Wilson, to established the Redcliffe-Maude Royal
Commission in 1966. It reported in 1969 that the existing local
government structures "no longer fitted the pattern of life
and work in modern England". This deliberately erroneous
finding showed that the conclusion had been determined before
the Commission sat.
White Paper (Cmnd.4584), Local Government Act
1972, Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
3.8 After Heath followed Wilson as Prime
Minister, he furthered the process of regionalisation. In February
1971 the Government published a White Paper (Cmnd.4584) setting
out proposals for the reorganisation of local government in England
outside Greater London. Legislation to give effect to these proposals
was introduced in the 1971-72 session of Parliament. It became
the Local Government Act 1972 introducing major changes in England
and Wales in 1974, and the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
implementing changes in Scotland in 1975.
Introduction of Unitary Authorities
3.9 Edward Heath didn't achieve his full
objective, but it was the first step in rearranging our local
government into EU Regions and what have since become known as
Unitary Authorities. Further significant alterations have been
made in England by a series of Local Government Acts since then.
Local Government Commission
3.10 The previous structure in England was
based on two tiers of local authorities (county councils and borough
or rural district councils) in the non-metropolitan areas; and
a single tier of metropolitan councils in the six metropolitan
areas of England. The system continued to change, step by step,
and following further reviews of the structure of local government
in England by the Local Government Commission, 46 unitary (all-purpose)
authorities were created between April 1995 and April 1998. These
were all steps to satisfy the EU's demands that Britain should
be broken up into regions.
Single European Act (1986)
3.11 Whilst local government re-organisation
was taking place in Britain to conform to the EU's requirements,
the EU was also making changes to consolidate its position. The
Single European Act (1986) was the first major reform of the previous
treaties. There were significant changes but none which particularly
affected the regional structure.
The Treaty on European Union (1992), (the "Maastricht
Treaty"), Committee of the Regions (COR), Cohesion Fund
3.12 The Treaty on European Union (1992),
known as the "Maastricht Treaty" institutionalised cooperation
in the fields of foreign policy, defence, police and justice.
Additionally, it established the Committee of the Regions (COR)
and a Cohesion Fund through which grant aid would be paid to regions.
(Note—Not to Central Government). The COR came into being
in November 1993 with representatives drawn from local authorities
and unelected regional chambers. The COR's stated purpose is "to
ensure that the public authorities closest to the citizen are
consulted on EU proposals of direct interest to them, especially
when they are responsible for implementing these policies after
they are adopted". But the smoke screen of consultation ignores
the fact that the Regions will be responsible to Brussels. The
UK has 24 seats on the committee. All representatives are appointed
by central government. A proportion of them are referred to as
"stakeholders" ie lobbyists.
3.13 As soon as the Committee of the Regions
was established, EU regionalisation began to move inexorably forward.
In 1996 the idea of Regions was given further substance with the
publication of the European Commission's regional booklets. In
these booklets all Regions are described in the same way. ie London
in Europe, Scotland in Europe, Wales in Europe etc, making it
clear that their allegiance is to the EU and that they are not
free and independent.
Treaty of Amsterdam (1997)
3.14 The next treaty was the Treaty of Amsterdam
(1997). This increased the powers of the EU by creating a Community
employment policy and by transferring to the EU some of the areas
which were previously subject to intergovernmental cooperation
in the fields of justice and home affairs. The treaty refers to
the Committee of the Regions on 47 occasions.
Scottish Parliament, The West Lothian Question
3.15 Soon after the Labour Party took office
in 1997 it started the process of devolution in Scotland, Wales,
Northern Ireland and London. Devolution is another term for regionalisation.
The Scottish Parliament now has legislative power over health,
education, local government, housing, law & order and the
implementation of the Common Agriculture and Fisheries Policies.
This has unbalanced the British Constitution in that MPs representing
those regions which have devolved government can legislate for
England, but English MPs cannot legislate for those regions. This
situation is known as the "West Lothian Question". The
citizens of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may think that
they have taken a step towards independence. They have not. They
are simply regions of the European Union and subordinate to it.
The Government of Wales Bill
3.16 Wales is about to be given legislative
powers under the Government of Wales Bill which is currently being
debated in Parliament.
An English Parliament? EU map of the EU disregards
England
3.17 Although Scotland, Northern Ireland
and Wales have been devolved to fit into the new plan for the
European state. There is no possibility of establishing an English
Parliament because the EU bureaucrats have already divided England
into nine separate regions. (See enclosed map—Annex "B"—"The
European Community—a community with no internal frontiers")
published by the Office for official publications of the European
Communities, 2nd Quarter 1992. It makes no reference to England,
only the Regions within England.
The Democratic Renewable Debate, Regional Development
Agencies Act (1998)
3.18 After completing the regionalisation
of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London the Labour government
then instituted the programme to break the rest of England into
eight regions. In 1998 it launched "the Democratic Renewable
Debate" and in the same year enacted the Regional Development
Agencies Act (1998). The Act brought about the establishment of
Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in each of the English Regions.
RDA members are appointed by the government. They co-ordinate
land use, transport, economic development, agriculture, energy
and waste. Responsibility for these functions has been removed
from county and district/borough councils. All RDAs have Brussels
offices, and most have other offices at various points throughout
the world. It can be seen that as these Regions acquire authority,
the cohesion of England as a unit of government within the UK
is being eroded.
Colloquium of Constitutional Regions, Intergovernmental
Conference (IGC)
3.19 The ability for regions to by-pass
Westminster has already been demonstrated. Scotland's First Minister,
Henry McLeish MSP, (now departed) signed the Colloquium of Constitutional
Regions in Flanders. This entitles Scotland to participate directly
in the debate on the future of the EU and allowed Scotland to
participate in the preparatory work for the Intergovernmental
Conference (IGC) which was held in 2004.
The Treaty of Nice (2001)
3.20 The Treaty of Nice (2001) was essentially
devoted to the "leftovers" of Amsterdam, ie the institutional
problems linked to enlargement which were not resolved in 1997.
The treaty makes little reference to the regions apart from adding
a number of issues on which the COR should be consulted and also
clarifying details of its membership.
Planning Green Paper—2001
3.21 On 12 December 2001 the Government
introduced a Planning Green Paper. It resulted in the removal
of county councils from the planning process. It introduced a
two tier system with district councils and the unelected Regional
Development Agencies becoming the planning authorities.
3.22 On the 15 November 2001, Lord Falconer
Minister for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, stated
in the House of Lords that three tiers of Government are too many
and the Government is "looking at county and district councils".
White Paper: "Your Region, Your Choice—Revitalising
the English Regions"
3.23 Then on the 9 May 2002 the Government
introduced its White Paper: "Your Region, Your Choice—Revitalising
the English Regions". The main argument in the paper was
that by establishing elected Regional Assemblies, decision making
would be brought closer to the people. This claim is totally unfounded.
Discussions with local government officers and councillors make
it clear that they are well aware that both county councils and
district or borough councils will cease to exist. They will be
replaced by unitary authorities where these do not exist already.
It follows that these will be larger than existing district/borough
councils which will make local government representation more
remote.
"Moving local government further away from
the people"
3.24 The situation regarding regional assemblies
is even more crucial. The White Paper suggests that they should
comprise 25-35 members. It is hard to imagine how so few people,
who will cover an area comprising several counties, will be more
accountable or accessible. In its 110 pages, the White Paper only
allows approximately two pages to discuss the EU. It makes no
reference to the Regions being responsible to the Committee of
the Regions nor to the fact that Regions will, in due course,
have legislative powers—or more precisely that they will
implement EU laws. The Labour Government's manifesto pledge was
to introduce "directly elected regional government".
The net result will be to take government further away from the
electorate and transfer even more sovereignty to Brussels.
Directive: Regulation (EC) 1059/2003 of 26 May
2003
3.25 Regulation (EC) 1059/2003 of 26 May
2003 delineates the regional structure. Although it claims to
be for statistical purposes, it is obvious that statistical records
must relate to administrative boundaries.
All new members must "regionalise" before
joining EU
3.26 The EU's programme of dismantling nation
states became even more obvious when the EU expanded in 2004.
All the new members had to change to regional government before
they were allowed to become members.
Fire Services and Police Constabularies being
Regionalised
3.27 Apparently spurred on by the ease with
which it can make these changes, and with opposition Parties,
giving tacit support, the Government has accelerated the programme.
Several traditionally county based services have been regionalised.
The Fire Service was the most recent and the Police Services are
in the process under a false claim that they will be more efficient.
Discussions with Gorbachev to join EU, Possibility
of a "Senate" now termed "The European Council"
3.28 It is not common knowledge that even
the USSR had discussions about joining the EU. In an effort to
prevent the USSR from falling apart, President Gorbachev's emissary
Vadim Zagladin met with the French President Mitterand's aide
Jacques Attalie on 3 April 1990. He was told that: "Currently
a plan to establish a new body is being thought over in the European
Communities. A Senate of Europe is expected to be created soon,
alongside the European Parliament. In the Senate, separate regions,
rather than countries, will be represented." Gorbachev was
offered a place on the Senate. This Senate is referred to in the
dormant EU Constitution as "The European Council". (It
should not be confused with the Council of Ministers. See Note
1)
3.29 There is no doubt that the EU's plan
is to transform the UK into a land incapable of defending itself
or articulating its national interests. Regionalism is a key part
in the two-pronged attack on the nation state: federalism from
above, through Euro-laws which makes it impossible for a state
to govern itself, and federalism from below, through regions which
dissemble the country and enable the EU to bypass national governments.
Local Government Act 2000, Cabinet Government
3.30 In addition to regionalisation, the
Local Government Act 2000 abolished our traditional system of
Councils being run democratically by committees. It replaced them
with the continental system of cabinet government. The British
have long believed that government by locally elected councillors
rather than Executive Members was the most democratic system of
local government.
4. CONCLUSIONS
4.1 First, Regions are a creation of the
EU. Second, the British Parliament no longer governs the United
Kingdom. Our institutions and civil servants are still in place,
but they have all become agents of the European Union, implementing
European law. We want our country back, and we want to return
to a democratic system of Government. Resisting the tide of regionalisation
will be a step towards that goal.
| 
