I see that the very first utterance in the House of Commons by my successor, Andrew Stephenson, the Conservative MP for Pendle, arises from a planted question, supplied by the Government machine to those without the wit to think of their own.

Here it is, preserved for posterity, in Hansard of 9 June 2010. 

1 Simon Kirby (Brighton, Kemptown) (Con): What mechanism he plans to use to review the effectiveness of non-departmental public bodies.

4. Chris Skidmore (Kingswood) (Con): What mechanisms he plans to use to review the effectiveness of non-departmental public bodies.

9. Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con): What mechanisms he plans to use to review the effectiveness of non-departmental public bodies.

10. Mr David Amess (Southend West) (Con): What mechanisms he plans to use to review the effectiveness of non-departmental public bodies.

When he got to his feet, Stephenson wanted to know “what we are going to do to stop the proliferation of more and more quangos, as happened under the previous Government?”

The Lancashire Telegraph reported on 27 May that the Homes and Communities Agency, “the quango in charge of housing market renewal” had announced £50 million in cutbacks.

How much is be sliced from the budget of the East Lancashire scheme run by Regenerate Pennine Lancashire is uncertain.

The Lancashire Telegraph reported the reaction of the two local Coalition MPs:

Burnley’s Lib Dem MP Gordon Birtwistle said: “This project simply cannot be stopped because we would have a bigger mess. It is a 15-year plan and it must run its course.”

He vowed to lobby new Housing Minister Grant Shapps over the project.

New Tory MP for Pendle Andrew Stephenson also said he was lobbying Mr Shapps to make the case for East Lancashire.

We wait to see if the quango’s budget is spared.