§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department intends issuing a statement or circular on the implementation of section 12 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989; and what communications he has received concerning the problems of implementing section 12.
§ Mr. KeyMy Department has no plans to issue any general guidance on section 12 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, which requires local authorities to avoid having their interests in negotiations with their staff on pay and conditions of service represented by councillors who are themselves local council employees or officers of trade unions representing local authority employees. My Department has received from a number of local authorities queries about the application of the section and other representations.