§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if police authorities publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) minutes of meetings, (d) agendas of meetings and (e) registers of members' interests; and in each case whether this is under a statutory requirement. [21686]
945W
§ Mr. MacleanPolice authorities established under the provisions of the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994 now incorporated in the Police Act 1996 are required to publish an annual report on local policing for that year and to copy that report to the Home Secretary. Under the 1996 Act, they are also bound by provisions in the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, which require agendas, minutes of proceedings and accounts to be open to inspection during reasonable hours and also requires members to declare any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in business which is under discussion. Additionally, regulations made under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 require councillor and independent members of police authorities to declare information about their pecuniary interests in a register which is open to public inspection.