HC Deb 03 July 2001 vol 371 cc140-2
9. Mr. Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire)

If he will introduce a system of proportional representation in local government elections. [659]

The Minister for Local Government (Mr. Nick Raynsford)

We have consistently made it clear that we have no proposals to change the voting system for local government, other than the introduction of the supplementary vote system for the election of directly elected mayors which is provided for in the Local Government Act 2000.

Mr. Kirkwood

Is that not a complacent answer, given the current levels of participation in elections to local authorities throughout the United Kingdom? If the Minister does not propose to consider the possibility of reinvigorating local democracy by introducing proportional representation, what other proposals has he? Now that executive structures are being created in authorities all over the UK under the new cabinet system, is there not a powerful case for using PR to ensure that a broader spectrum of back benchers is elected to scrutinise them?

Mr. Raynsford

Mr. Mayor—[Laughter.]

Mr. Speaker

It is normally "Provost" where I come from.

Mr. Raynsford

I am sorry, Mr. Speaker.

We are not complacent. We have an ambitious agenda for the modernisation of local government, but we believe that such modernisation involves far more fundamental processes than simply changing the way in which people vote.

In anticipation of the hon. Gentleman's question, I asked my officials to look into the matter. They assured me that they were unable to identify any reliable data suggesting that the introduction of PR has had any effect on turnout.

Mr. Kevin Hughes (Doncaster, North)

I hope that my right hon. Friend will go on resisting the continual cooing and wooing of the Liberal Democrats—and that of some of my hon. Friends—in regard to proportional representation. Does he agree that PR leads only to deals being done by politicians—perhaps, nowadays, in smoke-free rooms—and the presentation of policies that no one voted for?

Mr. Raynsford

I must initially disappoint my hon. Friend by reminding him that, when the Greater London Authority was introduced, I was responsible for the system of proportional representation for its assembly. He will appreciate, however, that the Government believe in solutions that are appropriate to different circumstances. We do not believe that one size fits all, and I have made it clear that we have no proposals to introduce PR to local government.