§ Kali MountfordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity; and if he will make a statement. [146032]
§ Ms Beverley HughesAs indicated in our response to the Report of the Joint Committee on the Draft Local Government (Organisation and Standards) Bill (Cm4529) we intend to review the Code to reflect the changes in councils' constitutions and the referendums and petitions resulting from the Local Government Act 2000.
We have today, therefore, issued a consultation paper setting out proposed alterations to the Code. These proposals reflect in particular the importance of councils consulting with their local communities, that individual councillors can take decisions, and that referendums, petitions and mayoral elections can take place under the Local Government Act 2000. A copy of this paper has been placed in the Libraries of the House.