A NORTH-EAST Parliament will not be forced on the region and will only be set up if backed by the voters, a Government minister has said.

Lord Rooker said people will not be pushed into backing assemblies at the ballot box, but will make up their minds on the issues.

The Local Government and Regions Minister also rejected Conservative Euro-sceptic claims that Brussels is forcing regions into going for assemblies as a way of securing cash.

He was speaking as the Bill that will allow regions to hold referendums on devolution was given its second reading in the House of Lords.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is expected to say next month that the North-East is to be one of the first regions to hold a ballot.

Campaigners for a Yorkshire assembly also want to be in the first group.

Lord Rooker told peers that people ''can vote to have one or vote not to have one, it is their choice".

He said: ''They will not be forced to have a regional assembly. They will not be pushed to vote yes. There is no requirement from Brussels, the European Union or anywhere else for England to have a structure of regional government.

''We are not implementing some plan or plot hatched up by Johnny Foreigner to seek to bring in by the back door or some way channel funds into different regions.''

Regional assemblies will be able to deliver ''tailor-made solutions to regional problems,'' Lord Rooker added.

Last year, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott unveiled plans to set up elected regional assemblies with powers in transport, regeneration, job creation, tourism, culture and sport.

Conservative spokeswoman Baroness Hanham said Government proposals were ''ill-considered, bureaucratic and expensive".

She also said there was little evidence that voters were as enthusiastic about regional assemblies as ministers.