§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures his Department is taking in order to increase voter interest in local elections.[84393]
§ Mr. MealeOur modernisation agenda for local government, as set out in the White Paper, "Modern Local Government—In Touch with the People", published in July 1998, includes a range of measures designed to reinvigorate local democracy and to modernise local electoral arrangements. Where this programme requires legislation, it will be implemented when parliamentary time allows.