§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how he has told people in(a) the North West, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley about the referendum on regional government; and how much has been spent on informing people of the referendum on regional government in (i) the North West, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) Chorley. [177149]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Government's "Your Say" information campaign has been running in the three northern regions since November 2003.
In the North West this has included issue of the "Your Say—A New Opportunity for the North West" leaflet in November 2003, available at no charge from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Free Literature, from the Government Office for the North West and at regional events, such as the recent hearings on elected regional assemblies. 552,000 copies were distributed as inserts in 19 free sheet newspapers across Lancashire and Cumbria. There were three hearings in the North West, at Blackburn, Liverpool and Kendal. Ministers have also visited the North West as part of cross-regional tours in inform voters of our policy and on other occasions.
280WThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also intends to send a leaflet to every household in the North West prior to the proposed referendum so that voters are fully informed of our policy on elected assemblies and the associated local government restructuring.
The cost of the 'Your Say' information campaign is not broken down by region, county or town. It has a budget of £5 million across all three regions.