§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many responses were received from the North West of England on the consultation on regional government; and how many(a) were in favour of regional government, (b) were opposed to regional government and (c) expressed mixed views. [111159]
§ Mr. RaynsfordBy 1 May 2003, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received 2086 replies from individuals and organisations in the North West to the Soundings Exercise on the level of interest in a referendum on establishing an elected regional assembly. In the light of changes to the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill, we have asked for any770W further responses by 16 May. We asked for views about the level of interest in holding a referendum, not about interest in regional government itself, and most respondents confined their responses to the former.