§ Sir Norman FowlerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce executive mayors; on what timescale; and if he will make a statement. [29228]
§ Ms Armstrong[holding answer 12 February 1998]: In our consultation paper "Local Democracy and Community Leadership", which we published on Monday 9 February, we recognised that there is a strong argument for councils' adopting political and management structures which involve a separation of executive and representational roles. It will be open to local authorities to pilot such structures, including those of executive mayors, if the Local Government (Experimental Arrangements) Bill is enacted. This Bill, to which the Government are giving all the support that they can, is currently being considered in another place. I will consider the responses we receive to the consultation paper, and we will publish our proposals in a White Paper later this year.