§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the changes in the Local Government Act abolishing payments for loss of earnings and affecting councillors' allowances, and in particular on their impact on the full participation of elected council members in council business and the implications for local democracy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryMy right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from local authority associations, from local authorities, and from individual councillors about the proposed changes to the system of councillors' allowances. My hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities met the chairmen and leading members of the local authority associations on 25 January to discuss these proposals. Since the meeting he has written to the chairmen of the local authority assocations and offered to consider any modifications to390W the proposals—within the basic framework that has already been established—which they are able to agree by 16 February. We are anxious to secure the fairest possible distribution of the total available resources and thereby to ensure that people from all walks of life will continue to be able to serve as councillors without suffering undue hardship.