HC Deb 02 March 1989 vol 148 cc285-6W
Mr. McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers he has to take action against local government councillors who receive financial or pecuniary benefit or advantage for their elected office.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

None.

It is an offence for a councillor who has not received a dispensation to speak or vote on any matter in which he or she has a pecuniary interest. Prosecution of such offences rests with the Crown prosecution service.

Mr. McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what categories of councillors' expenses are deemed to be personal income; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Councillors may become entitled to attendance allowance, financial loss allowance, special responsibility allowance, and travel and subsistence allowance. Where these allowances are not to reimburse expenditure or loss incurred wholly, necessarily and exclusively in the performance of the councillor's duties, they may be treated as personal income for tax and social security benefit purposes.