LOCAL GOVERNMENT RULES OF CONDUCT (Hansard, 10 July 1974)

§ LORD WINDLESHAM
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (LORD SHEPHERD)
My Lords, I am sure it would be the wish of this House if I were to express our appreciation and that of the Government to the noble Lord, Lord Redcliffe-Maud, and his colleagues for their very valuable work and Report. Consultation with local authorities, associations and the interested bodies is being pursued urgently.

§ LORD WINDLESHAM
My Lords, I should like to join with what the noble Lord the Leader of the House said in his tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Redcliffe-Maud, and his colleagues. But is the noble Lord, Lord Shepherd, aware that there is real urgency in this matter? The Report was produced at short notice without delay. It makes specific recommendations, in particular for the adoption of a National Code of Local Government Conduct. In view of the continuing concern in this matter, will he try to ensure that these recommendations can be implemented without any further delay?

§ LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, I recognise the urgency of this matter, but as I am sure the noble Lord would agree, this is a complex subject. It is a matter which goes to the very heart of local government work and responsibility. Therefore, it is right that there should be full and comprehensive consultation. That we are doing. We recently sent out a questionnaire to the various authorities and have asked for answers to be returned by September 30, and after that we should be in a position to be able to make definite proposals in this field. Of course, there are some aspects of the Report which could well be implemented by local authorities without any form of legislation.

§ LORD BYERS
My Lords, would implementation of the recommendations be by Act of Parliament or in some other way?

§ LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, some parts of the Report could be immediately implemented by local authorities themselves. A circular will be sent out, I 552 think in the next few days, making particular recommendations to local authorities. Some aspects of the Report will require legislation, and that is the matter about which we are now wishing to consult with the local authorities and other associations.

§ LORD BLYTON
My Lords, since the recent court cases relating to local authorities many local authorities are now taking action themselves by making councillors declare their interest. While we are awaiting implementation of this Report, we ought to give credit to the Councils which are now applying rigid rules in relation to their councillors in view of the recent unhappy events which have taken place.

§ LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, one of the matters of regret in public life is that where one unfortunate case occurs, serious though it may be, it tends to reflect upon the majority who give public service. I do not think there is any question about the outstanding integrity of not only those who serve as councillors but also the officials. If there is one bad case, nobody would wish to believe that this one bad case should reflect upon the body as a whole.

§ LORD REDCLIFFE-MAUD
My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the kind remarks which have been made by the Leader of the House and the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition will give great pleasure to members of the Committee? Could he assure the House that in any circular which Ministers of Her Majesty's Government may send to local authorities in the near future there will be endorsement of the suggestion made in the Committee's Report, that without waiting for general endorsement by central and local government of a code of conduct, local authorities should be encouraged, if they approve it, to endorse as an interim measure the code of conduct which was drafted and presented in the Report?

§ LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, I can give the noble Lord that clear assurance. Certainly there is much that the local authorities themselves could do in this matter without awaiting legislation.

§ LORD WINDLESHAM
My Lords, I think that the noble Lord the Leader of 553 the House has taken the spirit of this discussion: that in all quarters of the House there is real concern that this matter should be pursued without delay. Some aspects of it are complex. I agree with the noble Lord the Leader of the House in that respect. Some aspects may require legislation. However, on the central issue I hope that the noble Lord will agree that the draft code of conduct for local government councillors is something which the new local authorities could be urged now to adopt on a voluntary basis. I hope that the noble Lord will pursue this with his right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

§ LORD GREENWOOD OF ROSSENDALE
My Lords, may I take it from my noble friend that in spite of what he has said to the noble Lord, Lord Redcliffe-Maud, nevertheless he will have preliminary discussions with the local authority associations before making direct approaches to the local authorities?

§ LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, if my noble friend will refer to my original Answer he will observe that I mentioned specifically the associations. I think that it is right that in this particular area there should be the fullest possible consultation. While I recognise the point which has been made by the noble Lord, Lord Windlesham, concerning the need for urgency and for implementation of the recommendations, in my view and also in the view of the Government and of the House it should follow only as a consequence of the fullest possible consultation.