THEY are "good for democracy" according to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. But few people exercised their democratic rights during the Government's recent consultation on whether to hold a referendum on regional assemblies.

According to Conservative Shadow Deputy Prime Minister David Davis, only 8,000 people, or 0.01 per cent of the nation, responded to the consultation on the proposals.

But with the North-East, Yorkshire and Humber and the North-West regions yesterday being selected as the first to vote in a referendum on an elected assembly, it remains to be seen whether people will muster enough enthusiasm to support home rule.

Despite the announcement, there is still a great deal of detail missing on the devolution map.

The assemblies will have powers for economic development, jobs, investment, transport, planning, housing, culture, tourism, arts and sport. They are likely to have power over land use, regional planning, environmental protection, biodiversity and waste, with these powers being taken from central Government instead of local authorities.

They will also take powers from agencies, quangos, regional chambers and the Government offices in the regions.

The assemblies will comprise 25 to 35 members, including a leader and cabinet of about six people chosen by and accountable to the assembly. They will be elected every four years using the Additional Member System, a form of proportional representation which is used by the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly.

Tony Flynn, chairman of the North-East Assembly, said: This is about choice and the opportunity for people to have their say in shaping the way in which they are governed, and how decisions are made in the future."

But with the assembly, comes concerns over a shake-up in local government structure. The Boundary Committee for England will carry out a review of local government in the three proposed regions with a view to removing either the county or district level to create a one-tier unitary council.

Not surprisingly, the district level authorities are not convinced this will provide the best deal for local people.

Councillor Eileen Bosomworth, leader of Scarborough Borough Council, in North Yorkshire, said Mr Prescott's announcement had failed to provide any justification for a referendum.

"The suggestion that this new regional government will be given the power to precept local taxpayers to pay for this assembly - with a cabinet of as few as six members to decide on economic development, transport and housing needs across this diverse region - is very worrying," she said.

There are key questions which need to be answered, for North Yorkshire in particular. How, for example, can a Yorkshire and Humber Regional Assembly with its headquarters at Leeds, Sheffield, Hull or Bradford know the needs and be accountable to people living in rural parts of North Yorkshire? Is one tier of local government covering bigger areas accountable to people on a grassroots level?

Councillor Arthur Barker, leader of Hambleton District Council, said: "The powers and what these bodies will do is as yet unclear. While the Government has indicated it will have certain strategic powers, it is not definite what these will be and how assemblies will operate.

"Local people need to think seriously about the true benefits of reorganising local government again in terms of improving public services."

Another aspect will be how they raise their funds. The assemblies will be set up initially through a single central government grant. But the bodies will be able to raise extra money through council tax, and although a Government White Paper has suggested a B and D council tax payer would end up paying about 5p a week towards running costs, assemblies could set higher charges to fund extra spending. It is not clear what exactly "additional spending" would comprise.

The assemblies will cost about £25m to run with about £5m being offset by staff moving from existing posts. The remaining £20m will be for support staff, members' pay and elections.

But devolution campaigners point out this is the time for historic change.

It is a time to see real powers taken from Westminster and channelled into the North. They just have to convince the voters.