§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the numbers of local authorities that will adopt the cabinet-style model of local government; and if he will list them. [66729]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Government have not made any such estimate; councils will need to consult their local communities before deciding which model to adopt.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to make the decision process of local government more accessible to the public. [66730]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Local Government Bill, which received its Second Reading on 12 January, is the first step in delivering our wide-ranging agenda for bringing councils closer to the people which was set out in our White Paper "Modern Local Government—In Touch with the People". Our proposals to transform the political management and ethical framework of councils will be published soon in a draft Bill and other measures will follow.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many local authorities have offered a referendum to the public following the White Paper on local government reform. [66731]
§ Mr. RaynsfordWe are aware that a number of councils have already signalled their intention to hold referendums on reforms to their political management structures.