§ Mr. RobathanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy to introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the Neill Committee on the conduct of referendums before any further national referendums. [83595]
§ Mr. StrawWe intend to publish a draft Bill to implement the main findings of the Neill Committee report before the Summer Recess, and we hope to have the new arrangements in place by the time of the next general election. The Government's position on the timing of possible referendums on changes to the voting system for elections to the House of Commons and on Britain's membership of the single currency were set out by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in the reply he gave to the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) on 4 November 1998,Official Report, column 868 and in his statement of 23 February 1999, Official Report, columns 179–96 respectively.