§ Mr. WoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to issue a code of recommended practice on local authority publicity under section 4 of the Local Government Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardFollowing consultations with the local authority associations and other interested parties, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment, for Scotland and for Wales have today laid before the House a draft code of recommended practice on local authority publicity. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House and in the Vote Office.
The draft code encourages good, effective publicity aimed at improved public awareness of a council's activities. It is essential that local authority decisions on publicity should be properly made and conform with clear principles of good practice. The draft code sets out these principles and reflects the conventions which should apply to all publicity paid for at public expense.
The draft code has to be approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament before it is issued. Once it is issued, local authorities will be required to have regard to the code in coming to any decision on publicity.