On May 7 Londoners will have to decide on whether they want a new strategic authority and a mayor looking after tourism, transport and economic policy for the capital. NICOLE LAMPERT reports

Two million pounds has been spent advertising it, Government ministers have played football at Wembley to publicise it, and newscaster Trevor Phillips is everywhere trumpeting it -- but a survey has found only one in ten Londoners realise they will be able to vote for their own assembly in just two weeks' time.

The obvious assumption from this is that even fewer people know what the assembly will actually do.

A leaflet detailing what would happen if Londoners give the plans a yes vote is available from libraries, community centres and doctors' surgeries.

Here is an insiders guide to the assembly and mayor.

The process starts on May 7 when, at the borough elections, you will also get a yellow ballot paper asking: "Are you in favour of the Government's proposals for a Greater London Authority made up of an elected Mayor and a separately elected Assembly?"

If the answer from London is yes, the Government will then push through the necessary legislation for a Greater London Authority (GLA) and the first elections will take place in two years' time. Future elections would be every four years.

You will vote for the two strands of the authority: the mayor and the assembly. For the mayor you will vote for your first and second choice and for the assembly you will vote for one named candidate from your area and for one political party. Just under half of the elected members will be chosen on the basis of how much support each political party gets from this second vote. These will be known as London-wide members.

The mayor will wield tremendous power, overseeing new police and fire authorities, running transport and economic development bodies and setting out a budget.

Although local authorities will still deal with the majority of planning applications, any large developments will also be dealt with by the mayor.

And the mayor will speak for London, organising action on tourism and culture. His will be a full time job with a salary of £90,000.

The Assembly's role will be largely to oversee what the mayor is doing. There will be 25 members.

Members will sit on the various authorities looking after the fire, police, transport and economic policy. The deputy mayor, chosen by the mayor, will be a member of the assembly.

Being an assembly member will also be a paid job.

The £20million cost of the authority will be funded by central Government and Londoners, who can expect a further 3p a week on a Band D council tax bill.

Anyone who lives or works in London, including Commonwealth or EU citizens will be able to stand for election.

If you would like to know more you can contact the London Decides Helpline on 08456 070598.

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