§ Mr. Sayeedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department collects on the purposes to which money raised under section 142 of the Local Government Act 1972 is put by local authorities.
§ Mr. WaldegraveLocal authorities are not obliged to identify separately expenditure incurred under section 142 of the Local Government Act 1972. My Department does not therefore collect information in the form to which my hon. Friend refers.
§ Mr. Sayeedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce legislation to amend section 142 of the Local Government Act 1972.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe Widdicombe inquiry has been asked to report by the end of July on local authorities' discretionary spending on publicity and political campaigning. We shall wish to consider the inquiry's recommendations very carefully, both in relation to section 142 of the Local Government Act 1972 and generally. As we have made clear on previous occasions, we certainly do not preclude legislation in due course.