CAMPAIGNERS for home rule are demanding to know when a long-awaited White Paper on regional devolution will be published.

Members of the North East Assembly say the region's hopes of self-governance by 2005 are "slipping" because the Government has yet to publish the paper.

Ministers have already warned that any delay in publication could reduce the likelihood of it being included in the Queen's Speech in November, leading to slippages in it becoming law.

It was hoped the paper would be published by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott last autumn, and then early in 2002, but the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions cannot confirm whether it will be ready by March.

Speaking at Darlington Arts Centre, regional assembly vice-chairman, Coun Bob Gibson, said the process was "slipping badly".

"The main issue is getting this White Paper out and pressuring the government to make sure they are working on that and they are not just kidding us along," said Coun Gibson, leader of Stockton Borough Council.

"Then you can have a look at what the proposals are and if they are what we want.

"We have been told it's on its way, it's not. It's continually slipping. We have to say to national government this has gone on long enough. When is this paper coming out?"

The long-awaited White Paper is expected to address the powers, responsibility and functions of any new regional bodies.

The assembly has estimated if the White Paper is published by February, it could make the Queen's Speech in November and legislation could take place in time for a referendum in 2004 and regional government in 2005.

Assembly chairman Coun Tony Flynn, said: "Clearly, we have to have it this year other wise it won't be in the Queen's Speech and it won't make legislation."

The North-East is in a strong position to become one of the first devolved regions.

Recent research conducted by Newcastle University suggested that the North-East would be far more economically successful if it had greater power in its own hands.

By taking control of the local economy, skills, planning, housing, transport, culture and crime reduction, people would see a big improvement in their day-to-day lives.

A spokeswoman for the DTLR said: "We are determined to get it right and it will be published when it's ready."