HC Deb 08 June 2000 vol 351 c315W
Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the local authorities which do not include in their codes of conduct the 15 principles of conduct set out in the White Paper, "Local Government: In Touch with the People". [125101]

Ms Armstrong

It is not yet a statutory requirement for local authorities to have their own code of conduct. The obligation on local authorities to adopt a code of conduct, based on the general principles of conduct, is contained within Part III of the Local Government Bill, currently in Committee in this House.

Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the local authorities which have not yet established formal whistleblowing arrangements in accordance with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. [125103]

Ms Armstrong

My Department collects no information on whether local authorities have such procedures in place. While many employers, including local authorities, will wish to introduce procedures that facilitate internal whistleblowing, the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 does not require them to do so, nor to inform the Government of their actions in this respect.