Clause 12 - Local Government Review
Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill
6:45 pm
Mr Jim Knight (South Dorset, Labour)
Is the hon. Gentleman now saying that it is his party's policy that in any future local government reorganisation individual referendums would be held in every area concerned? That was certainly not the policy of the previous Conservative Government when they reorganised local government. In Dorset, it was nonsense for Bournemouth and Poole to have separate unitary authorities. I know that you might disagree with that, Mr. Butterfill; I do not know what your opinion was at the time. I certainly do not recall the good residents of Bournemouth and Poole, or the residents of the whole of Dorset, being given a referendum to decide whether they agreed with the outcome of the review.