§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make it his policy to restrict the subjects raised in parish polls to matters for which the council organising the poll has responsibility. [25616]
§ Dr. WhiteheadThe Local Government Act 1972 already restricts the subjects raised in parish polls to questions, raised at a parish meeting, on parish affairs.
§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to increase the threshold of the numbers of voters required to request a parish poll in large parish and town councils; and if he will make a statement. [25401]
§ Dr. WhiteheadAs part of our initiatives, following the Rural White Paper (Cm 4909), to strengthen local democracy at parish level we will be reviewing the operation of parish polls including the threshold of the number of voters required to request a poll in large parish and town councils. Any change to the current requirements will require primary legislation.