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Regional Assemblies

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated costs are of setting up elected regional assemblies in (a) the North West, (b) the North East and (c) Yorkshire. [165460]

Mr. Raynsford: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for North Essex on 18 March 2004, Official Report, 451W.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the effect of the proposed regional assemblies on the operation of (a) town, (b) county, (c) borough and (d) city councils in the regions in which assemblies are set up. [165607]

Mr. Raynsford: Elected regional assemblies will be required to actively involve stakeholders in the region in their work. We would expect that local authorities (including town and parish councils) in any region that has an elected assembly will work in partnership with the assembly to deliver their vision for the region.

In regions that choose to have elected assemblies, two-tier local authorities (county and shire district councils) will be restructured into a single tier.

Regional assemblies will generally not take responsibilities from local authorities. Local government will remain the community champion with responsibility for local service delivery, while regional government will lead in the development and implementation of the strategic vision for the region.

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to paragraph 5.5 of Cm 5511, what level of additional funding will be made available for rewarding elected regional assemblies which achieve or exceed the targets set by central Government. [165728]

Mr. Raynsford: No decisions have been taken on the likely level of performance reward grant for elected regional assemblies. Targets will be agreed between elected assemblies and central Government, not set by central Government.

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) officials and (b) press officers are involved in the information campaign on elected regional assemblies, "Your Say". [162422]

Mr. Raynsford: No members of staff are working full-time on the information campaign or elected regional assemblies.

However, there are four administrators, three publicity officers and three press officers in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister involved in the campaign as part of their wider communications responsibilities. There are also 14 members of staff across three Government Offices involved in the campaign as part of their wider responsibilities.
 
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Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he will take to encourage voter turnout for the regional assembly referendums. [165606]

Mr. Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has announced that we intend to hold the referendums as all-postal ballots. In addition, we are running the "Your Say" campaign about the proposed powers of assemblies. As part of this information campaign, there will be a leaflet to every household.

The Electoral Commission also have a power under the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act to do anything they think necessary or expedient to encourage voting at these referendums.

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library copies of the responses to the Consultation Papers on (a) regional referendums spending limits and (b) the conduct of the referendums. [166516]

Mr. Raynsford: Copies of the responses to the following consultation papers are available in the Library:

(a) Registration and spending limits for those wishing to campaign;

(b) Combining regional and local referendums and local referendum rules; and

(c) Fees and charges for counting officers.

In addition, a summary of the responses is available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website.

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total budget for the "Your Say" information campaign is; and how much he has budgeted for (a) leaflets, (b) posters, (c) broadcasting, (d) ministerial visits, (e) exhibition stands, (f) design costs, (g) press information and (h) other associated costs. [165727]

Mr. Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects the "Your Say" information campaign to cost up to £5 million in total. Likely costs are not broken down in the way requested. However current estimates of the main components are:

	£
(a) Production and distribution of leaflets	1,700,000
(b) Posters	650,000
(c) Broadcast media	1,120,000
(d) Newspapers	475,000
(e) Events	420,000
(f) Other	635,000

Regional Devolution

Mr. Rosindell: To 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. Raynsford: The 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.
 
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This 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. Rosindell: To 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. Raynsford: The 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 be held is in 2006.

Room Sizes

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will re-introduce minimum standards for the size of rooms in new dwellings. [165463]

Phil Hope: The Government has no plans at present to introduce minimum room size standards for new dwellings into the building regulations.

Science Strategy

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy Investing in Innovation. [162245]

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published a Science and Innovation Strategy for my Department in July 2003 which sets out: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's commitment to maintaining the use of science and research for policy making and delivery; how The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's evidence base is being developed to support it's objectives; how The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is engaging with our research stakeholders; and how The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is developing it's research base and building capacity, both internally and in the wider research community. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is implementing the recommendations of the Cross-Cutting Review of Science and Research in co-operation with OST and we will look for opportunities to use our research to promote innovation.

Special Constables

Mr. Todd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on the granting by parish councils of (a) honoraria and (b) ex-gratia payments to special constables serving their area. [165467]

Phil Hope: Parish Councils are responsible for their actions and decisions to their electorate and to the auditor. Special constables may be paid allowances by a
 
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police authority only as determined by the special constables regulations. Any proposals to offer honoraria or ex-gratia payments to special constables would require approval by the Home Secretary under The Special Constables (Amendment) Regulations 2002.

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