HC Deb 13 February 2002 vol 380 cc382-4W
Margaret Moran

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list those local authorities who have undertaken interactive e-democracy projects. [34750]

Dr. Whitehead

This information is not held centrally. Results of the Best Value Performance Indicator 157 to be published later this year will give an indication of the percentage of council information available online as at 1 April 2002.

Margaret Moran

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with the e-Envoy on electronic democracy. [34751]

Dr. Whitehead

We are working jointly with the Office of the e-Envoy and others to develop policy on e-democracy, including e-voting, and intend to consult on our wide-ranging proposals later this year.

Margaret Moran

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of e-democracy projects undertaken in(a) the UK Parliament, (b) other parliaments and (c) local authorities; and if he will list them. [34748]

Dr. Whitehead

My Department, with the Office of the e-Envoy and others, are developing e-democracy in the United Kingdom. The Government intend to consult on their wide-ranging proposals later this year. In drawing up these proposals, we are considering lessons to be learned from the best examples of e-democracy projects that have taken place in the UK Parliament, other parliaments and in local authorities, which include the following:

UK Parliament

  • The All Party Domestic Violence Group on-line consultation (Womenspeak).
  • The Social Security Select Committee inquiry into tax credits.
  • Elected representatives websites.
Other Parliaments
  • The Scottish Parliament's on-line petitions and discussion groups.
  • The National Assembly for Wales' on-line consultation for ICT strategy.
  • The European Parliament—on-line petitions and citizen's mailbox.
  • The Aboriginal Canada website.
  • Dutch Parliament—e-voting.
  • US Presidential elections 2000—remote internet voting. Elected representatives websites.
Local authorities
  • Young Camden website.
  • Young Citizen's project—Lewisham.
  • Online referenda in Bristol and Croydon and other voting pilots.
  • The Kalix Radslag deliberation (Sweden)—on-line consultation and discussion.

Margaret Moran

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with local authorities in respect of e-democracy projects. [34749]

Dr. Whitehead

As we announced to the House on 5 February 2002,Official Report, columns 829–32W, in consultation with the Office of the e-Envoy, the Electoral Commission and the Local Government Association, we have approved 30 local authorities to run electoral modernisation pilot schemes in the May 2002 local and mayoral elections. The Electoral Commission will be providing support and advice to pilot authorities throughout the pilot programme.

My Department liaised closely with those authorities in the consideration of their applications and this process will continue in order to draw up the necessary parliamentary orders which need to be in place by 25 March 2002.

Forward to