HC Deb 23 June 1976 vol 913 cc1571-3
1. Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement on the future of the attendance allowance system for local authority members.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Guy Barnett)

I have nothing to add yet to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 5th May. I shall make a statement as soon as possible.

Mr. Cartwright

Does my hon. Friend accept that the attendance allowance system has caused bitter resentment, because it allows some people who have not lost a penny piece through their local government service to claim substantial sums, whilst others who have to lose time from work are left substantially out of pocket? In those circumstances, will my hon. Friend persuade my right hon. Friend to publish the report of the joint working party with local government, which considered the problem? That report has been suppressed for the past year. Alternatively, will my hon. Friend set up an independent inquiry to look into the whole matter?

Mr. Barnett

I very much agree with what my hon. Friend said at the start of his supplementary question. The allowance system has thrown up many injustices and anomalies. For that reason my hon. Friend's suggestion of an independent inquiry will need to be examined.

My hon. Friend referred to the review that my predecessor undertook. It was not written with an eye to publication, but any further review would almost certainly include the evidence acquired as a consequence of that inquiry.

I have a great deal of sympathy with what my hon. Friend said, because undoubtedly some councillors—chairmen of committees, leaders, and so on—are doing a first-class, virtually full-time job for very little reward, while there are others for whom the allowance is possibly more than they need.

Mr. R. C. Mitchell

Will my hon. Friend have consultations with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services to ensure that a mayoral allowance for the performance of a mayor's civic duties is not regarded as income for calculating eligibility for unemployment allowance or social security benefits?

Mr. Barnett

My hon. Friend has referred to one of the grave anomalies that have cropped up. I could quote the example of the chairman of an important committee of a council who is similarly affected by the kind of problem that my hon. Friend raised. All these points are complex and difficult. That is why I welcome the suggestion made by my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Cartwright).

Sir John Hall

The Minister referred to an investigation initiated by his predecessor. Can he not tell the House at least what conclusions were reached, if he is not prepared to publish the report?

Mr. Barnett

I said earlier that the investigation was not conducted with the intention of publishing its results. It may be right for the evidence gathered as a result of that review to be used as part of a general review that we are now undertaking and that we shall later report to the House, or to make those facts and figures available to the sort of independent inquiry that has been suggested.