HC Deb 13 May 2003 vol 405 cc174-5W
Mr. Luff

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complaints have been considered by the Standards Board for England against(a) parish or town councillors, (b) district councillors and (c) county councillors in Worcestershire; and how many of these complaints have been upheld. [112659]

Mr. Leslie

For parish and town councillors in Worcestershire: 85 allegations have been received by the Standards Board, of which 37 have so far been passed for investigation. Of the 29 completed cases, nine have been passed to the Adjudication Panel. Hearings are yet to be held.

For district councillors in Worcestershire: 42 allegations have been received by the Standards Board, of which 14 have so far been passed for investigation. Of the seven completed cases none has produced evidence of breaches of the code where action is considered necessary.

For county councillors in Worcestershire: two allegations have been received by the Standards Board. None of these has so far been passed for investigation.

Mr. Luff

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister why complainants to the Standards Board for England remain anonymous; and if he will make it his policy to require the disclosure of the names and addresses of complainants to councillors against whom complaints are made. [112660]

Mr. Leslie

The conduct of investigations into allegations of misconduct is a matter for the Standards Board for England and for ethical standards officers employed by the Board. I understand that it is the practice of the Board to provide anonymity for persons making allegations only in exceptional cases, where that person is considered vulnerable.

Mr. Luff

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complaints have been considered by the Standards Board for England against(a) parish or town councillors, (b) district councillors, (c) unitary authority councillors and (d) county councillors; and how many of these complaints have been upheld. [112667]

Mr. Leslie

For parish and town councillors: 1,805 allegations have been received by the Standards Board, of which 801 have so far been passed for investigation. Of the 404 completed cases, 90 have been passed for hearing to the Adjudication Panel. Of the 42 cases so far heard by the Adjudication Panel. 41 have concerned parish councillors, 40 of which were upheld.

For district councillors: 839 allegations have been received by the Standards Board. 289 of these have so far been passed for investigation. Of the 114 completed cases, 24 have been passed for hearing to the Adjudication Panel. These are yet to be heard.

For unitary authority councillors: 280 allegations have been received by the Standards Board. 88 of these have so far been passed for investigation. Of the 30 completed cases, one has been passed for hearing to the Adjudication Panel. This case is yet to be heard.

For county councillors: 72 allegations have been received by the Standards Board. 13 have so far been passed for investigation. None has produced evidence of breaches of the code where action is considered necessary.