HL Deb 06 April 1998 vol 588 cc77-8WA
Lord Williams of Elvel

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish proposals for a new ethical framework for local government.

Baroness Hayman

We intend to publish tomorrow our proposals for a new ethical framework for local government in England. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

This paper is the last in the series inviting discussion on the Government's agenda for modernising local government in England. It sets out our proposals for a new framework of conduct for councillors and council staff. These proposals are built on the Third Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, presented to Parliament in July 1997 (Cm 3702).

Through our modernising agenda we are seeking to build and maintain a culture in which councils are open and readily accountable to their local communities. We believe our proposals for the new conduct regime will play a vital part in building up that culture and restoring that essential bond of trust between local people and those who serve them in their local councils.