Clause 5 - Referendums: frequency
Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill
11:45 am
Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon, Conservative)
I accept that point. I am not saying that all reform of local government is bad or that unitary authorities are bad. I believe in single-tier local government; it is more effective than our current structures in some parts of the country. I say what I believe, Mr. Butterfill; you would expect nothing less from me. However, whether people are looking forward to new opportunities and aspiring to put long-held beliefs into practice, or are worried about the uncertainty, jockeying for position and campaigning to get the number one or number two job, the level of uncertainty will come around all too quickly. Local government can do without that.
Although the Bill does not make it clear, the decision to hold another referendum would be made, presumably, by the Deputy Prime Minister and his team. So the Deputy Prime Minister has to take an interest in future possible referendums as well as the first set. That means that, in the run-up to the five-year period, people concerned about the issue will be investing time, effort and energy in campaigning to catch the Deputy Prime Minister's eye to demonstrate the level of interest. The gap between referendums will not be five years; it is more likely to be four years, because I expect that people will campaign for 12 months to catch the eye of the Deputy Prime Minister. Four years between referendums is far too short.
We have heard that the CBI is suggesting that 10 years is the right interval. I know that the Government do not listen to the CBI these days; they prefer instead to load yet more taxes and regulations on successful wealth-creators, which is shocking and undesirable. The penny is beginning to drop in the business community left, right and centre. However, this is an issue on which the Government would be well advised to listen to the CBI. An interval of 10 years would give a level of certainty and would enable things to settle down so that everyone knew where they stood.