§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether he plans to offer advice and guidance to local authorities in areas subject to regional assembly referendums on the extent to which they can publicise their own views on the recommendations of the Boundary Committee on the proposed new local government structure in their area. [139033]
§ Mr. RaynsfordNo—the rules on such matters are clearly laid out in the Code of Practice on Local Authority Publicity.
The Boundary Committee will be giving its recommendations wide publicity. Its reports will explain the views of those that made submissions or representations, including those of the local authorities affected.
Local authorities may, within reason, make known their views on a preferred outcome in a referendum. These are matters for the judgement of the local authorities affected but the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not believe that it is either necessary or appropriate for them to spend council tax payers' money on further publicity.