§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will study a transcript of the "Tonight" programme on 18th May, with a view to considering the adequacy of the law on declaration of councillors' interests, planning law, and housing associations.
§ Mr. ArmstrongI have seen a copy of the transcript of the programme. I have50W been aware for some time that the law relating to duality of interests of committee members of housing associations needs strengthening. It is the Government's intention to introduce amending legislation at the earliest suitable opportunity to bar a member of an association from taking fees or other payment for work done for the association.
Nothing in the programme, however, suggests to me that the law relating to the making of planning applications or to the declaration of councillors' pecuniary interests needs amending.