Yorkshire Forward, the new collective name of the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Development Agency - launched on April 1 - is to develop and implement a strategy to boost the region's £52 billion economy over the next decade.

In order to reach its objective, Yorkshire Forward is calling for people to have their say on the future of the region.

Graham Hall, chairman of the new organisation, which is charged with driving the region forward into a new period of wealth, opportunity and economic prosperity, said: "For the first time this region has been given the power to manage and deliver changes that will boost our economy and our quality of life."

Commenting on the consultation, he said: "Yorkshire and the Humber is our home; we live and work here, we bring up our families here and we should know better than anyone else what is good for our region.

"But we need to ask ourselves some searching questions. How do we create better-paid jobs? How do we help businesses to grow and compete in today's global market place? How do we attract new business into the area? And how do we improve and sustain the quality of life in the region?

Contributions to the debate can be made in writing to Yorkshire Forward at the following sub-regional offices: Spitfire House, Aviation Court, Clifton Moor, York, YO30 4GY; 17 Victoria Avenue, Harrogate, HG1 5RD; Westgate House, 100 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4LT; and City House, New Station Street, Leeds, LS1 4US.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.