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Alternative Vote: Referendums

Answer

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and I have held no direct discussions with the First Minister of Wales on the date of the proposed referendum on the parliamentary voting system. However, the Secretary of State for Wales and the First Minister of Wales have had discussions on this issue.The First Minister for Scotland, the right hon. Alex Salmond MSP, wrote to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister on 9 July regarding the proposed date for the referendum. A response was sent in July.The First Minister of Wales, the right hon. Carwyn Jones AM wrote to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister on 7 July and 12 July. Mr Jones wrote again to the Secretary of State for Wales and the Deputy Prime Minister on 13 July and 5 August. Responses to these letters were sent on 21 July and 28 August.The First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, the right hon. Peter Robinson MLA and Martin McGuinness MP MLA wrote to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Deputy Prime Minister on 28 July. A response was sent on 24 August.Copies of all of these letters are being placed in the Library.It was right that we announced the Government's proposals for the referendum to Parliament first. Following that announcement, we have been working and will continue to work closely with the Electoral Commission and others to make sure that the devolved elections, the local elections in England and the referendum are run effectively on 5 May next year.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

13186; 515 c647W

Session

2010-12

Related items

Deposited Paper DEP2010-1696
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Deposited papers
House of Commons

Electoral Reform
Monday, 27 September 2010
Written questions
House of Lords

Subjects

Alternative vote Referendums

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk