HC Deb 17 June 2002 vol 387 c123W
Dr. Gibson

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice he gives to local authorities on public access to the register of interests of councillors. [61625]

Mr. Raynsford

The statute requires that copies of the register of members interests be kept available at an office of the authority for inspection by members of the public at all reasonable hours, and that the authority must publicise the address at which the register is kept and inform the Standards Board for England that such copies are available. Informal advice on conduct issues, including on where additional copies of the register may be kept by parish councils, is given in the new ethical framework bulletins, which until April were published by the Department and are now the responsibility of the Standards Board.