Mr. Anthony D. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress the United Kingdom has made towards ratifying the European Charter of Local Self-Government; and if he will make a statement. [32574]
§ Ms ArmstrongMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has today laid the Charter, together with my Explanatory Memorandum, before the House, thereby beginning the process of ratification. Our signature of the Charter on 3 June 1997 made clear our support for the principles of democratic local government which the Charter enshrines. Ratification will commit us to uphold these principles.
Our system of democratically elected councils, leading their local communities and securing the delivery of local services, conforms with the Charter's principles. This will be reinforced by our agenda for modernising local government and reinvigorating local democracy.