Campaigners have attacked the Government for failing to introduce legislation to create a regional assembly in Yorkshire.

They said the omission of a Bill on regional government from the Queen's Speech was a "missed opportunity".

It will now be at least another 18 months before any legislation on devolving powers from Westminster to Yorkshire is introduced, Campaign Yorkshire said.

Director Jane Thomas said: "This is a missed opportunity to really make a difference, both in terms of democratic and constitutional renewal and ensuring better and more effective governance."

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has promised a White Paper on arguments for strengthening "regional accountability".

This would pave the way for the establishment of directly-elected bodies at some point in the future - if they gain support from local people in a referendum.

But Campaign Yorkshire says a White Paper is only a consultation document. It wanted the Govern-ment to go further and make an early commitment to setting up a regional assembly in Yorkshire.

A spokesman for the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions said: "Some people have been suggesting this is bad news, but it is not at all.

"The next stage on regional assemblies is the publication of the White Paper, and that will happen shortly."

The spokesman said: "The Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, supported by Stephen Byers, is working on the preparation of a White Paper on elected regional government.

"This will set out the Government's proposals for taking the policy forward, including the approach to the legislation which would be needed.

"This would be a major constitutional development. Ministers think it is important to work through the detail of the policy properly and to give people in the regions the opportunity to consider the proposals, rather than rush something straight into Parliament."

Updated: 12:12 Thursday, June 21, 2001