§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to receive the report of the commissioners appointed to prepare draft standing orders for the National Assembly for Wales. [69805]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Commissioners' chair, Mr. Gareth Wardell, wrote to me on 22 January, enclosing a comprehensive set of draft standing orders. I am very grateful to the Commissioners for the work they have undertaken on this extremely important task.
I am arranging for copies of the Commissioners' report to be placed in the libraries of the House. I am also writing to the right hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) and the hon. Members for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Livsey) and for Woodspring (Dr. Fox), inviting their parties' views on the Commissioners' work. I expect to make the standing orders in their final form in March.
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§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what educational publicity campaign he plans to undertake, at what estimated cost, to inform electors of the new proportional voting system to be used in the election for the Welsh Assembly. [69187]
§ Mr. MichaelInformation about the voting system will be given as part of the overall information campaign to increase public awareness of the Assembly and its powers together with the greater accountability for decisions in Wales once the Assembly is in place. I have now allocated some £2 million for the National Assembly Information Campaign.