HC Deb 01 February 1977 vol 925 cc126-7W
Mr. David Price

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to implement the recommendations of the Prime Minister's Committee on Local Government Rules of Conduct (Command Paper No. 5636); which of the recommendations have not been implemented; and what are the reasons for non-implementation in each case.

Mr. Shore

Following publication of the report in May 1974 my Department issued Circular 106/74 drawing attention to those recommendations which local authorities could implement without delay. In October 1975 Circular 94/75 was issued, after consultation with local authority associations, setting out a National Code of Local Government Conduct in terms suggested by the report.

The Government gave an undertaking not to reach decisions on the implementation of the remaining recommendations which involved changes in the law until these matters had been further considered by the Royal Commission on Standards of Conduct in Public Life. That Commission has now reported and its recommendations are being considered concurrently with the recommendations of the earlier report.

A statement will be made in due course.