§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when he expects to respond to the report of the Joint Committee on the draft Local Government (Organisation and Standards) Bill; [96963]
(2) when he expects to publish the latest version of the Local Government (Organisation and Standards) Bill. [96962]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe draft Local Government (Organisation and Standards) Bill was published earlier this year as part of a consultation exercise to seek the views of local authorities and interested members of the public and to provide the opportunity for pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee of Members of both Houses of Parliament. The Joint Committee published its report at the beginning of August.
We have no intention to publish a further version of the draft Bill; the next stage would be for the Government to introduce primary legislation to Parliament. A response to the Joint Committee report would accompany the introduction of the legislation. My Department hopes to bring forward the legislation at an early opportunity.