§ Sir Roger MoateTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the statutory obligations on local authorities to publish the salaries and other employment costs of senior local government officers; and what assessment he has made of the availability of such information to the public. [19617]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordWe have today laid before Parliament the Accounts and Audit Regulations 1996 which will require the annual statement of accounts of local authorities to disclose the number of employees whose remuneration falls in each bracket of a scale in multiples of £10,000 starting with £40,000. "Remuneration" means all amounts paid to or receivable by an employee, including the estimated money value of any benefits received or receivable otherwise than in cash. These new requirements will apply for the first time to the financial year 1996–97. Local authority statements of accounts will continue to be required to be published and to be available for public inspection.