Government has responded to ODPM's regional planning proposals set out in its September 2004 consultation paper Housing and planning in the regions. The consultation paper followed the Barker review of housing supply's recommendations that Regional Planning Bodies and Regional Planning Boards should be merged to create single bodies responsible for managing regional housing markets, delivering the region's affordability goal and advising on distributing resources for social housing. These merged bodies should be supported by strong and independent Regional Planning Executives providing public advice to the merged bodies on housing numbers and allocation of housing within the region in order to achieve the region's market affordability target. Government has accepted the need for this merger and for the provision of an independent national advice unit to be set up by autumn 2006.