§ Mr. Mark FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he intends to direct local authorities to undertake local referendums to ascertain the public support for directly elected mayors in cases where council has decided to pursue another form of local government under the Local Government Act 2000. [10124]
§ Dr. WhiteheadThe circumstances where my right hon. Friend may direct a local authority to undertake a local referendum to ascertain the public support for a directly elected mayor are specified in Schedule 2 to the Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions and Directions) (England) Regulations 2000. Simply that a council has decided to pursue a form of local government other than one that involves a directly elected mayor is not one of the specified circumstances. In any case where one or more of the specified circumstances prevails, my394W right hon. Friend will decide whether or not to direct a referendum, having regard to all the circumstances of that case.