Scotland: Openness in Local Government (Hansard, 27 November 1997)

§ Lord Sewel

Local authorities are under strict statutory obligations to conduct their business in a way which is open to public scrutiny. The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 makes requirements about the openness of council meetings (and meetings of committees and sub-committees) to the public, and about public access to documents associated with these meetings. The Local Government (Access to Information) (Scotland) Order 1996 extended these provisions to the joint boards created on local government reorganisation.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities issued a Code of Openness in Local Government in January 1997, to set out principles of openness and to give advice and examples of good practice to local authorities. This document was produced by a working group which included officials from the Scottish Office and representatives of the Local Government Ombudsman, the Accounts Commission and the Scottish Consumer Council. I have arranged for a copy of the code to be placed in the Library of the House.

The Government have announced their intention to set up an Independent Commission on Local Government and the Scottish Parliament; it is intended that part of this commission's remit will include an examination of the accountability of local authorities to their electorate, and this may include consideration of the openness of local authorities. The Government are also considering the development of a new ethical framework for local government in the light of the Committee on Standards in Public Life's recent report, and intend to publish proposals in the near future.