§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from(a) local authorities, (b) local authority associations, (c) the Audit Commission, (d) publishers of free newspapers and (e) others about the requirement in the Local Government Act 1992 to publish local authority performance indicators in a paid-for newspaper; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerI have received a number of representations form local government, the Audit96W Commission, and others, including publishers of free newspapers, that the requirement of the Local Government Act 1992 for information on local authority performance indicators to be published in a paid-for newspaper should be modified to allow publication in free newspapers. We are concerned to ensure that information about an authority's performance has the widest possible circulation in the local community, and hence we are carefully considering these representations with the view, if necessary, of seeking at a convenient opportunity amending legislation to the 1992 Act.