Polling stations: Not in use

The government has confirmed that next year's referendums on regional assemblies will be conducted by all-postal ballots.

Answering questions in the Commons, local government minister Nick Raynsford said the move was designed to maximise the turnout in the three polls.

Deputy prime minister John Prescott gave the go-ahead earlier this year to referendums in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber areas following a consultation process.

The government has also trialled all-postal ballots in a series of local authority elections which have resulted in an overall increase in participation.

Following the success of the trials, Raynsford said he had decided to extend the initiative.

"We will do our utmost to secure a high level of turnout," he said.

But Labour backbencher Geraldine Smith voiced her objections to the announcement.

She said there was no public enthusiasm for the polls or the assemblies in the North West.

The postal ballots would be a "total waste of taxpayers' money" the Morecombe MP said.

Conservative spokesman David Davis said "the regional referendum announcement was greeted by overwhelming apathy because there is no demand for regional government".

"Mr Raynsford has said he would not grant a regional assembly if voter turnout is derisory but will not define what he means by derisory, yet this decision for an all-postal ballot shows this is clearly what they fear," he added.

"The government is conceding that people won't bother to vote for yet another tier of bloated bureaucracy."