HL Deb 27 May 2004 vol 661 cc153-4WA
Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the cost of compilation, production and distribution of the booklet, A New Opportunity for the North West-Elected Regional Assembly-Your Say, issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. [HL2893]

The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker)

To date 722,630 copies of the bookletA New Opportunity for the North West have been produced at a total cost of £46,448, of which the compilation costs were £2,917, the print and production costs were £35,979 and the distribution costs were £7,552. The distribution sum covered the costs on the insertion of 551,430 leaflets in free newspapers across the North West region.

Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the booklet, A New Opportunity for the North West-Elected Regional Assembly-Your Say, issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, is intended to provide an impartial explanation of the Government's proposals, including arguments for and against voting for the Assemblies in the referendum later this year. [HL2894]

Lord Rooker

The purpose ofA New Opportunity for the North West is to provide voters in the North West with information on the proposed powers of an elected regional assembly and why the Government believe that it would benefit the North West.

The photographs in the leaflet show an equal number of people saying yes and no to these proposals.