§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the implementation of sections 9, 13, and 15 to 18 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
§ Mr. PortilloMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be making an order commencing from 1 August 1990 for England and Wales, the provisions of sections 9, 13, and 15 to 17 of, and schedule 1 to, the 1989 Act. These deal with assistants to political groups, the voting rights of co-opted members of local authority committees, and the requirements for pro rata representation on committees and other bodies. He, together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, will be laying the necessary regulations before Parliament, to come into effect on the same day. The necessary order under section 9 is also being made to come into force in due course. Separate regulations deaing with pro rata representation on sub-committees of county police committees will be laid in due course.
The Government are, however, still taking advice on certain aspects of the regulations to introduce the new system of councillors' allowances in England and Wales, and more time is needed to resolve these. A further announcement will be made as soon as possible.