§ Mr. Lewis Stevensasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to introduce legislation in the present Session of Parliament on matters relating to the conduct of local authority business.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe Government earlier this year appointed the Widdicombe inquiry to consider a number of practices and procedures governing the conduct of local authority business; and to make recommendations for strengthening the democratic process.
Apart from the matters relating to publicity included in the Local Government Bill presently before Parliament, I have reached no conclusions on the issues being examined by the committee of inquiry, nor is there any intention to take legislation action on them in advance of the committee's final report next year.