Opinion was today sharply divided on a Yorkshire "mini-Parliament".

MPs and campaign groups were quick to debate the merits of an elected regional assembly after the Government set the referendum date as November 4.

It means voters in the North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber will - subject to Parliamentary approval - have the opportunity to say if regional government is right for them.

If people vote Yes in the all-postal ballot for a Yorkshire regional assembly, it will have 25-35 members and control a £500 million budget.

The referendum will happen despite Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott not yet setting out the assembly's powers.

Ann Cryer, Labour MP for Keighley, said: "I am pleased. I don't think you can have enough democracy. Let battle begin."

But David Curry, Tory MP for Skipton, branded the referendum a "Great North hoax" and said an assembly would snatch power from local people.

Roland Clark, chairman of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said: "There is nothing in the White Paper to suggest the Yorkshire Assembly would be anything other than a toothless talking shop with little money or power."

And former Bradford businessman John Watson, spearheading the Yorkshire Says No campaign, said taxes would rise to fund the assembly.

He said: "Despite its enormous cost it could not give a penny to schools, hospitals, police forces or roads. In short it would quickly become the object of ridicule and derision, a monument to waste like the Dome."

But Yes4Yorkshire, a group campaigning for an assembly, welcomed the announcement.

Campaign director Jane Thomas said: "An elected regional assembly will give this region the strong voice and the clout to demand a fair share of public spend and to shape the future success of Yorkshire and Humber.

"We now have 120 days to count down to the referendum and we shall be campaigning across the region on the overwhelming case in favour. We look forward to engaging in an honest, open and positive campaign."

Paul Sykes, the Yorkshire businessman who is heading the UKIP "No" campaign, said: "These regions are an insult to the people of Yorkshire. They have little or no connection with the historical and geographical boundaries of the old counties."