'THE VOICE of Yorkshire' is listening to people through the internet, according to a government minister visiting York.

Local government minister Beverley Hughes was in York to launch the website of the Regional Assembly for Yorkshire and Humberside.

She said it will increase the power of the region's people to keep in touch with the group, known as 'the voice of Yorkshire', which represents the 22 local authorities in the region.

She said: "Councils can interact with each other, which is important in spreading best practice in the work they do, and the public can too.

"It is very important that local people can have their say, and this new site will give them that."

The assembly is a non-statutory body which aims to promote local government and a regional voice.

It works to join up the work done by the local authorities in the area, as well as promoting Yorkshire and Humberside in Europe.

Mrs Hughes said: "I think this region has developed a particularly strong assembly and it works very well."

She also addressed a conference on best value in local government at a conference held at York's Royal Hotel yesterday.

City of York Council is a leader in the Government's best value scheme, which reviews council departments to ensure they are working as efficiently as possible.

Part of York's best value review involved proposals to close some of York's swimming pools, which caused more than 25,000 to sign a petition opposing it.

Mrs Hughes said: "An important part of best value is consultation and the involvement of local people.

"I can't comment on the swimming pools issue because I don't know the detail but, in other areas where reviews have resulted in proposals to close, consultation has made the public aware of why the closures are proposed and that money saved will go back into improving the service."

The Regional Assembly of Yorkshire and Humberside website can be accessed on www.rayh.gov.uk.