§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland which Scottish local authorities have elected members sitting in at meetings of the management team of local officials; and whether he will seek to amend the law either to prevent this practice as in the case of Kyle and Carrick district council or to guarantee equal right of access to such meetings to opposition parties.
§ Mr. RifkindI see no reason to change the law and impose controls over local authorities on a matter such as this which is essentially one for each authority to decide in the light of its own circumstances. Up-to-date information on the management structures now operated by each authority is not held by my Department.