HC Deb 25 June 2003 vol 407 cc796-9W
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those referendums(a) which have taken place and (b) which have been pledged since May 1997; if he will list (i) the votes in favour and (ii) the votes against, and calculate those figures as a percentage of eligible votes; and if he will make a statement on his policy towards identifying criteria for holding referenda. [121466]

The Prime Minister

The list of referendums and associated statistics requested are contained in the following tables.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his statement, Economic and Monetary Union, in this House on 9 June 2003, Official Report, column 415, that the Government propose to publish a draft referendum Bill this autumn.

The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) provides the generic statutory framework for the conduct of referendums in the United Kingdom, or a referendum held in Scotland, Wales, England or Northern Ireland, but there are no criteria for determining when it is appropriate to hold a referendum on a particular issue.

National and regional referendums since 1997
Year Referendum area Referendum Result
1998 Northern Ireland Do you support the agreement reached at the multi-party talks on Northern Ireland and set out in Command Paper 3883? Yes 676,966 (71.1%) No 274,879 (29.9% Turnout 81%
1998 London Are you in favour of the Government's proposals for a Greater London Authority, made up of an elected mayor and a separately elected assembly? Yes 1,230,715 (72%) No 478,413 (28%) Turnout 34.1%
1997 Wales 1. I agree that there should be a Welsh Assembly; or 2. I do not agree that there should be a Welsh Assembly Yes 559,419 (50.3%) No 552,698 (49.7%) Turnout 50.1%
1997 Scotland 1. I agree that there should be a Scottish Parliament; or 2. I do not agree there should be a Scottish Parliament; 1. I agree that a Scottish Parliament should have tax-varying powers; or 2. I do not agree that a Scottish Parliament should have tax-varying powers 1,775,045(74.3%) 614,400(25.7%) 1,512,889 (63.5%) 870,263 (36.5%) Turnout 60.4%

Mayoral referendums since 1997
Date Council Result
7 June 2001 Berwick-upon-Tweed Yes 3,61 7 (26%) No 10,212(74%) Turnout 64%
28 June 2001 Cheltenham Yes 8,083 (33%) No 16,602 (67%) Turnout 32%
28 June 2001 Gloucester Yes 7,731 (32%) No 16,317(68%) Turnout 31%
12 July 2001 Watford Yes 7,636 (52%) No 7,140 (48%) Turnout 25%
20 September 2001 Doncaster Yes 35,453 (65%) No 19,398 (35%) Turnout 25%
4 October 2001 Kirklees Yes 10,169(27%) No 27,977 (73%) Turnout 13%
11 October 2001 Sunderland Yes 9,375 (43%) No 12,209 (57%) Turnout 10%
18 October 2001 Brighton & Hove Yes 22,724 (38%) No 37,214 (62%) Turnout 32%
18 October 2001 Hartlepool Yes 10,667 (51%) No 10,294 (49%) Turnout 34%
18 October 2001 Lewisham Yes 16,822 (51%) No 15,914(49%) Turnout 18%
18 October 2001 Middlesbrough Yes 29,067 (84%) No 5,422 (16%) Turnout 34%
18 October 2001 North Tyneside Yes 30,262 (58%) No 22,296 (42%) Turnout 36%
Mayoral referendums since 1997
Date Council Result
18 October 2001 Sedgefield Yes 10,628 (47%) No 11,869(53%) Turnout 33%
8 November 2001 Redditch Yes 7,250 (44%) No 9,198 (56%) Turnout 28%
20 November 2001 Durham (City) Yes 8,327 (41%) No 11,974 (59%) Turnout 29%
6 December 2001 Harrow Yes 17,502 (43%) No 23,554 (57%) Turnout 26%
24 January 2002 Plymouth Yes 29,559(41%) No 42,811 (59%) Turnout 40%
24 January 2002 Harlow Yes 5,296 (25%) No 15,490(75%) Turnout 35%
31 January 2002 Newham Yes 27,263 (68%) No 12,687 (32%) Turnout 26%
31 January 2002 Southwark Yes 6,054 (31%) No 13,217 (69%) Turnout 11%
31 January 2002 West Devon Yes 3,555 (23%) No 12,190 (77%) Turnout 42%
31 January 2002 Shepway Yes 11,357 (44%) No 14,438 (56%) Turnout 36%
21 February 2002 Bedford Yes 11,316 (67%) No 5,537 (33%) Turnout 16%
2 May 2002 Hackney Yes 24,697 (59%) No 10,547 (41%) Turnout 32%

Mayoral referendums since 1997
Date Council Result
2 May 2002 Mansfield Yes 8,973 (55%) No 7,350 (45%) Turnout 21%
2 May 2002 Newcastle-under-Lyme Yes 12,912(44%) No 16,468 (56%) Turnout 31.5%
2 May 2002 Oxford Yes 14,692 (44%) No 18,686(56%) Turnout 34%
2 May 2002 Stoke on Trent Yes 28,601 (58%) No 20,578 (42%) Turnout 27%
1 October 2002 Corby Yes 5,351 (46%) No 6,239 (53%) Turnout 31%
12 December 2002 Ealing Yes 9,454 (45%) No 11,655(55%) Turnout 9.8%