§ Bob RussellTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it a requirement for local authorities to make an annual return to him giving details of the total amount paid in allowances to councillors; and if he will publish annually a list showing how much is paid in total to councillors in each local authority area. [120723]
§ Mr. RaynsfordNo. Each local authority, following advice from its independent panel, determines its own scheme of allowances and is directly accountable for this to its own electorate. Local authorities are thus required to publish information locally, both about the scheme of allowances and the amounts paid to each individual councillor.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to ensuring that local authorities are accountable to their communities and is also committed to minimising the burden of unnecessary red tape and regulation on local authorities.