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28 Apr 2011 : Column WA147
28 Apr 2011 : Column WA147
28 Apr 2011 : Column WA147
Thursday 28 April 2011
Elected Mayors
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of holding referenda on electing a mayor in England's 12 major cities; and what would be the cost per local authority.[HL8502]
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many referenda have been held so far in England to decide on locally elected mayors; and how many voted for and how many voted against an elected mayor.[HL8503]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): There have, to date, been 39 referendums in England to decide on elected mayors. Of these, 14 voted for an elected mayor, including for the London mayor, and 25 voted against the mayoral model.
I refer my noble friend to the impact assessment for elected mayors, published by my department in January 2011. Copies are available in the House Library and on the department's website at: www.communities.gov. uk/publications/localgovernment/localismmayors.
Government Departments: Staff
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many staff employed in Government Offices for the Regions at the date of the announcement of the abolition of the offices have been redeployed within the civil service; and to which departments they have been redeployed.[HL8250]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): The abolition of the Government Offices for the Regions will deliver savings of up to £200 million over the spending review period and help to transfer power from central government to councils and communities.
Since the decision to close the Government Offices for the Regions made in the spending review on 20 October 2010, 449 staff employed in the government offices have been redeployed within the Civil Service.
The table below confirms the numbers redeployed to departments, including their agencies and non-ministerial government departments:
28 Apr 2011 : Column WA148
| Department | Number of Staff Transferred |
* There is insufficient information to identify specific departments.
A further 115 GO staff are awaiting formal confirmation of redeployment to other departments.
Government: Public Support
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to measure public support for the different policies in The Coalition Agreement: Our Programme for Government.[HL8150]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach:The Coalition Agreement: Our Programme for Government sets out the policies and programme for action for the coalition Government and will be subject to consultation and/or parliamentary scrutiny as appropriate. There was a substantial test of public opinion in the general election of 6 May 2010. The public will be able to judge the record of the coalition Government, and the future programmes of the parties on offer, in four years' time at the next general election.
Local Authorities: Referenda
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what would be the estimated cost of conducting one referendum in each local authority in England; and what would be the cost per referendum per authority.[HL8505]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): I refer my noble friend to the impact assessment for local referendums, published by my department in January 2011. Copies are available in the Library of the House and on the department's website at: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/ localgovernment/localismreferendums.
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