§ Mr. WattsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to issue alterations to the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity; and if he will make a statement. [156819]
§ Ms ArmstrongWe have today issued, to all county councils, district councils and London borough councils in England, alterations to the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity, a draft of which was laid before the House on 15 February 2001. These alterations reflect the new council constitutions and the introduction of referendums and petitions under the Local Government Act 2000.
As announced by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State on 15 February 2001, Official Report, column 220W, we also intend in the future to review further the Code, having regard to councils' experiences of operating their new constitutions over a reasonable period of time. This further review will also cover the Code's application to those authorities—such as police authorities—which are not adopting new constitutions.
A copy of the alterations have been placed in the Library of the House.