Mr. S. James A. Hillasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give any guidance to joint committees about the admittance of the Press to their meetings.
§ Mr. RipponYes. These joint committees, set up under Section 264 of the Local Government Act 1962, are not required by Statute to admit the Press as they are not listed in the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960. Their work is, however, clearly of great importance for the future of local government and I strongly recommend the committees to admit the public and the Press to their meetings, subject to the usual provision for exclusion from parts of meetings in which confidential business is being transacted.