§ Q6. Mr. Loughlinasked the Prime Minister if he will now examine the position of local authority representatives who are debarred from determining policies from which they may derive pecuniary gain, with particular reference to members of such local authorities who may be council house tenants; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterIt is a well established principle in local government that councillors should not speak or vote on matters in which they have a financial interest, whether the interest derives from tenancy of a council house or arises in some other way. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government may remove that disability whenever so many members would be disabled that the transaction of business would be impeded, or for any other reason he thinks that it is in the interests of the inhabitants of the area to do so.