§ Baroness Carnegy of Lourasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they propose to issue a code of recommended practice on local authority publicity under Section 4 of the Local Government Act 1986.
The Earl of CaithnessFollowing consultations with the local authority associations and other interested parties, my right honourable friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment, Scotland and 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 Printed Paper 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 he 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 issued, local authorities will be required to have regard to the code in coming to any decision on publicity.