§ Lord Sandfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will publish the Widdicombe report; and whether they will make a statement.
§ Lord EltonMy right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has today laid before the House a copy of the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Conduct of Local Authority Business, the Widdicombe Report.
My right honourable friend has thanked Mr. David Widdicombe and his fellow members on the committee most sincerely for their report. The committee's study has been a thorough one, and its report is impressive in the extent of its coverage and the scope of its findings. It is also radical in content. Major changes are proposed to deal with the impact of greater politicisation on the conduct of local government business.
The Government believe that the report will stimulate wide-ranging debate. We wish to encourage that debate, and to weigh its outcome before reaching a view on the committee's proposals. We are therefore issuing an invitation today to all interested parties to let us have their views. We are determined that the timescale for this will be adequate. We shall be looking for substantive responses by the end of this year.
I commend the Committee for their major study, and I look forward to the considered response of the public.