§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will include with the postal ballot for the proposed English regional assemblies explanatory memoranda setting out the expected costs and savings of the new structure. [137559]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 prohibits publication of any material relating to a referendum during the 28 days prior to the poll by any Minister of the Crown, Government Department or local authority. Therefore, the postal ballot for the proposed English regional assemblies will not include any such material. However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has launched an information campaign to ensure that relevant information about the role and composition of Elected Regional Assemblies is made easily available in each of the three northern regions where referendums may be held. This includes an estimate of the costs of running elected assemblies and the savings to other public bodies whose staff transfer to the assembly.