§ The Minister for Local Government, Regional Governance and Fire (Mr. Nick Raynsford)I have today published for consultation a paper discussing the provisions to be made for the Electoral Commission to pay counting officers for the expenses they incur in connection with the regional assembly referendums and the associated local government referendums. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to hold the referendums in autumn.
Copies of the documents are available in the Libraries of the House. They will also be available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website:
http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_control/ documents/contentservertemplate/odpm_index.hcst?n=4095&1=2
This consultation, and the two launched on 18th December concerned with the combination of the regional and local referendums and on registration and spending limits respectively, will run until 16th February. We would be very grateful for all comments on these proposals.