§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress with plans for regional devolution in areas which express an interest. [165608]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Government are continuing to prepare for referendums to be held in each of the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber about whether people want an elected assembly for their region.
367WThis includes undertaking our information campaign "Your Say", which is aimed at ensuring people in the three northern regions are aware of the issues before they cast their vote in a referendum.
If there is a "yes" vote, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will then bring forward legislation whenever parliamentary time allows to enable elected regional assemblies to be established. We aim to publish a draft of that Bill before the first referendums are held.
§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the process for establishing regional devolution in areas that vote in favour of the proposal. [165618]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will lay orders for various aspects of the referendums in the summer.
Before we hold referendums in regions that may want to establish elected assemblies, we aim to publish a draft Bill, which will set out the process of establishing the assemblies and the powers they will have. The earliest that elections could he held is in 2006.