§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of local authority councillors convicted of corrupt practices in each year since 1945, broken down by year of conviction, by year or years in which the offences were committed, and by the type of authority on which the councillors served, whether county or district.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettMy Department does not keep statistics of this type and this answer has been prepared with the assistance of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
It is not possible to provide information prior to 1964 because under normal procedures, case papers are generally destroyed after 10 years. Information about the year or years in which the offences were committed and the type of authority on which the councillors served could only be supplied at disproportionate cost.
439WCorrupt practices are not of themselves a criminal offence. Councillors, however, have been convicted of offences under Section 76 of the Local Government Act 1933 and under the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889 and the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1906 and 1916.
NUMBER OF COUNCILLORS CONVICTED Cases under Section 76 Local Government Act 1933 Cases under Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889 and the Prevention of Corruptions Acts 1906 and 1916 1964 6 1 1965 4 0 1966 3 1 1967 1 — 1968 1 — 1969 1 1 1970 — — 1971 — — 1972 — — 1973 — 5 1974 1 3 Total 17 11