HC Deb 16 October 2002 vol 390 c897W
Mr. Osborne

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost of establishing an elected regional assembly in the North West. [71970]

Mr. Raynsford

Costs will vary from region to region, mainly because of the different sizes of their electorates. But we expect them all to fall in a range around £15–30m a region. This estimate includes all costs necessary to establish an assembly, including the cost of a referendum and of the first elections to an assembly.