HC Deb 04 February 1985 vol 72 c420W
Mr. Greenway

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce legislation to prevent expenditure by local authorities for propaganda purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Local Government has already explained in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Amess) on 9 January at columns763–4, we do not preclude legislation. There are, however, questions of interpretation of the present law still to be resolved by the courts.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will shortly be advising the House of details of the intended impartial inquiry into a number of aspects of local government including discretionary spending on publicity.