Minister for regeneration and social exclusion in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Yvette Cooper, said that the Government was taking steps to close the regional divide.

BBC: NEWS | UK | England | Northamptonshire | London's growth 'swallows' south

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) dismissed the appeal last Friday.

BBC: NEWS | UK | England | Hereford/Worcs | Strawberry farm to appeal again

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister gave assurances in a statement to the programme that steps are now being taken.

BBC: Have land investors lost the plot?

But in the reorganisation which followed the departure of Stephen Byers in 2002, Mr Prescott became head of the first formal Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - and regained the local and regional governmental responsibilities he had held at the DETR.

BBC: John Prescott

After the 2001 election, he was moved to a less high profile role in the Cabinet Office, but retained the position of Deputy Prime Minister.

BBC: John Prescott