Regional minister

Their stated role was "to provide a clear sense of strategic direction for the nine English regions and to help strengthen their links with central government.

He said that the process of completing appointments to the Government was continuing, and that the Prime Minister, David Cameron, "had been very clear on the importance of devolution".

"[7] A proposal to establish such ministerial positions had been made by think tank the New Local Government Network (NLGN) in its report Redesigning Regionalism: Leadership and Accountability in England's Regions, which in turn had developed from a 2006 pamphlet written by MPs Ed Balls and John Healey, and NLGN Director and former MP Chris Leslie.

It followed from the 2004 rejection by voters in the North East of England of a proposed elected regional assembly.

[14] In January 2014, the post of Minister for Portsmouth was created, with the aim to help support the city's shipbuilding industry.

[5] The role was initially held by Michael Fallon until the appointment of Matthew Hancock in July 2014,[15] who was replaced by Mark Francois in May 2015.

[17] In May 2015, James Wharton was appointed to the new role of Minister for the Northern Powerhouse, focusing on wider devolution to English "core cities" including Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, and Newcastle.