§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
What discussions they have had with each local authority in the north-east in regard to possible local government reorganisation following the regional referendum on 4 November. [HL4141]
§ The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker)The Government have set up a working group to discuss the implementation of any reorganisation of local government following the regional referendum on 4 November. The group, which met for the first time in March comprises of representatives from local government, including those from the north-east, and other interested parties.
§ Lord Greavesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether regional assembly referendums in Yorkshire and the Humber, and the north-west, could be held on the same day as the county council elections on 5 May 2005; or on a general election polling day; or both; and, if so, whether they have ruled out such an option. [HL4281]
§ Lord RookerThere is no statutory prohibition that would prevent the Government from holding a regional referendum on the same day as a county council or general election. No decision, however, has yet been taken about the date of a regional assembly referendum in Yorkshire and the Humber, or the north-west, or of the general election.
§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will provide a full breakdown of costs and expenditure incurred by the regional referendum campaigns in the north-west and the Humber prior to their announcement on 22 July. [HL4117]
§ Lord RookerIt is not possible to provide a full breakdown of expenditure on the "Your Say" public information campaign in the north-west and Yorkshire and the Humber regions without incurring disproportionate costs. However, estimates of the main components of the "Your Say" campaigns in those regions are tabled below:
26WA
NW (£000) Y&H (£000) (a) Production and distribution of leaflets 98 72 (b) Posters 232 193 (c) Broadcast media 242 211 (d) Newspapers 137 158 (e) Events 49 39 (f) Other 309 278 Total 1,067 951
§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
What were the dates of each ministerial visit connected with the regional referendum campaigns in (a) the north west; (b) Yorkshire and the Humber; and (c) the north east. [HL4121]
§ Lord Rooker
Date Place Dates of Ministerial visits to the North West 4 November 2003 Warrington 1 December 2003 Liverpool 22 January 2004 Manchester 29 January 2004 Speke and Sefton 25 February 2004 Bolton 4 March 2004 Blackburn 5 April 2004 Liverpool 15 April 2004 Kendal 22 April 2004 Preston 5 May 2004 Barrow 15 June 2004 Crewe and St Helens 18 June 2004 Warrington 15 July 2004 Runcorn and Blackpool Dates of Ministerial visits to Yorkshire and the Humber 3 November 2003 York 4 December 2003 Barnsley, Leeds and Wakefield 23 January 2004 Leeds 18 March 2004 Sheffield 1 April 2004 Hull 22 April 2004 Halifax 23 April 2004 Ripon 18 May 2004 Scunthorpe 18 June 2004 York 28 June 2004 Scarborough Dates of Ministerial visits to the North East 3 November 2003 Durham 13 January 2004 Durham County Council 23 January 2004 Newcastle 4 March 2004 Berwick 25 March 2004 Newcastle 22 April 2004 Middlesbrough 18 June 2004 Durham 31 August 2004 Morpeth 9/10 September 2004 Sunderland, Newcastle, Corbridge, Middlesbrough
§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
What estimate they have made of the costs associated with the decision to postpone the regional referendums in the north-west and Yorkshire and the Humber. [HL4118]
§ Lord RookerThe referendums for Yorkshire and the Humber and the north-west are being rescheduled, so preparation for them has been and still is necessary. Some of the preparations are common to all three regions. The main costs incurred by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister relate to the "Your Say" campaigns in the north-west and Yorkshire and the Humber, which are detailed in a further answer given to the noble Baroness [HL4119]. The Boundary Committee's review of local government in those regions remain valid until June 2005.
27WA
§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their intention with regard to the moneys previously allocated towards the north-west and Yorkshire and the Humber regional referendum campaigns; and what is the amount in question for each region. [HL4119]
§ Lord RookerThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister originally proposed a budget for the "Your Say" information campaign across all three regions of £5 million. This was allocated as follows:
North-west £2.2 million Yorkshire and the Humber £1.6 million North-east £1.2 million Following the decision to postpone referendums in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber, we suspended the campaign in these regions, diverting £210,000 of the spend into our Fire Safety campaign. The final breakdown across the regions is:
North-west £1.07 million Yorkshire and the Humber £0.95 million North-east £1.22 million The balance of £1.55 million remains in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's budget and has yet to be reallocated. The total sum spent on the "Your Say" campaign is £3.24 million.
§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
What discussions they have had with the Scottish Executive in regard to the possible creation of a north-east regional assembly. [HL4139]
§ Lord RookerHer Majesty's Government have not had any discussions with the Scottish Executive in regard to the possible creation of a north-east regional assembly. However, we have kept the Scottish Executive informed about the evolution of the Government's proposals to establish elected regional assemblies in those English regions which vote in a referendum to have one.
§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which printers have been contracted to provide ballot papers for the north-east regional referendum; and what is the financial value of each contract awarded. [HL4138]
§ Lord RookerHer Majesty's Government have not been involved in negotiations with printers regarding contracts to provide ballot papers for the north-east regional referendum. This is a matter for the Chief Counting Officer. The Chief Counting Officer is Ged Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of Sunderland City Council, who was appointed by the Chairman of the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission is therefore better placed to answer this question.
28WA
§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are confident that the all-postal ballot for the north-east regional referendum will be free from the problems highlighted in the Electoral Commission's report of 27 August. [HL4137]
§ Lord RookerAs the Electoral Commission commented in its report of 27 August, there is extensive experience of all-postal voting in the northeast and there have been no allegations of fraud in that region. In addition, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is confident that the Chief Counting Officer, Ged Fitzgerald, the Chief Executive of Sunderland City Council, will take all the necessary steps to ensure a successful referendum. Additional assistance and delivery points will be provided to enable electors to receive help and vote in privacy.
§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
What discussions they have had, and with whom, as to the possible location for a north-east regional assembly. [HL4140]
§ Lord RookerThe location of the north-east regional assembly is a matter for that regional assembly to decide once it has been elected.
§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
For each ministerial visit connected with the regional referendum campaigns in (a) the northwest; (b) Yorkshire and the Humber; and (c) the north-east, which individuals or groups were met. [HL4136]
§ Lord RookerThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not keep a comprehensive list of the large numbers of individuals who attended the information campaign events, and data protection prevents us from providing those names we have. Where possible, lists of organisations/types of organisations, which were either invited to attend, or registered to attend various information campaign events, have been made available in the Library of the House. These lists should be treated only as a guide to attendance.