HC Deb 22 November 2001 vol 375 cc384-6W
Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library copies of all guidance so far issued by the Standards Board for England. [14544]

Mr. Byers

[holding answer 13 November 2001]: The Standards Board has published the following guidance: Guide to Part III of the Local Government Act 2000: Local Authorities; Guide to Part III of the Local Government Act 2000: Police, Fire, National Parks and other authorities; Guide to Part III of the Local Government Act 2000: Parish and Town councils. I have placed copies of these documents in the Library.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the criteria by which he selected people to be appointed members of the Standards Board for England. [14551]

Mr. Byers

[holding answer 13 November 2001]: The Board members were appointed by Ministers of the then Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions on the 7 February 2001, 22 March 2001 and on the 3 May 2001. I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my hon. Friend the then Under-Secretary of State on 7 February 2001, Official Report, column 535W; on 22 March 2001, Official Report, column 292W; and the answer given on 3 May 2001, Official Report, column 753W.

The published criteria were:

  • commitment to the value of local democracy;
  • unimpeachable integrity
  • significant achievement in any field;
  • tact and discretion;
  • the ability to act as a team member;
  • proven strategic and communication skills commensurate with the board of a national body.
  • candidates must not be holders of national elected office.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what(a) remuneration and (b) superannuation is paid to board members of the Standards Board for England. [14552]

Mr. Byers

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by the then Under-Secretary of State on 22 March 2001,Official Report, column 292W and on 3 May 2001, Official Report, column 753W.

The Chair is paid £50,000 a year for working two and a half days per week. The Deputy Chair is paid £7,500 a year for working two days a month. The Members of the Board are paid £6,800 a year for working two days a month.

None of the posts is pensionable.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the cost of the establishment of the Standards Board for England; and what is its continuing operating cost. [14553]

Mr. Byers

[holding answer 13 November 2001]: My Department spent £111,234 on recruitment exercises for the board members and chief executive. Preparatory work for the establishment of the Standards Board for England was also carried out by officials in my Department.

Since the establishment of the Board in March 2001, it has been paid a further £935,384 in grant-in-aid to fund its establishment and running costs.

The allocation made for the Standards Board for England for this year in the Department's request for resources was £7.5 million.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the Code of Conduct signed by the board members of the Standards Board for England, giving the dates on which each board member signed it. [14548]

Mr. Byers

[holding answer 13 November 2001]: I have today placed in the Library, the Code of Conduct adopted by the Members of the Standards Board for England. This code was adopted by all board members on 8 August 2001. It is based on the draft Model Code of Conduct for Councillors, adapted to reflect the differing nature of the Board and the local authorities for which the model code was designed.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who are the board members of the Standards Board for England; and what are their relevant(a) experience and (b) qualifications. [14549]

Mr. Byers

[holding answer 13 November 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by the then Under-Secretary of State on 22 March 2001, Official Report, column 292W and on 3 May 2001, Official Report, column 753W.

Tony Holland, a solicitor, was Principal Ombudsman to the Personal Investment Authority Ombudsman Bureau Ltd., 1997–2000. In 2000 he was appointed to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel and made Chairman of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission.

Patricia Hughes was Chief Executive of the London borough of Sutton from 1990 until February 2001. From 1987 to 1990 she was deputy Chief Executive and Borough Solicitor to the London borough of Islington.

Alan Doig is Professor of Fraud Management at Teeside Business School. He is author of numerous publications on ethics, conflict of interest, fraud and corruption. He works with a number of bodies involved with ethics and public office both in the UK and overseas, including the Council on Europe.

John Bowers QC is a barrister specialising in employment law, human rights and pensions. He is author of books on whistleblowing, human rights and employment law.

Margaret Pratt is a management consultant in local and central Government and district, metropolitan and county councils. A past president of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), she sits on the Audit Committee of University College, Northampton.

Roger Taylor is a solicitor and was Chief Executive of Manchester City council from 1984 to 1988 and Chief Executive of Birmingham City council from 1988 to 1994. He is currently Managing Director of JSSPinnacle Consulting, a Government Research, PFS/PPP and non-health consultancy.

Paul Sabapathy OBE is Pro Chancellor and Deputy Chairman of University of Central England. A past President of Walsall Chamber of Industry and Commerce, he has served on the boards of both the Black County Development Corporation and Birmingham Heartlands Development Corporation.

Celia Cameron CBE is leader of Norfolk county council and has been Leader of the Labour Group on Norfolk county council since 1990. Since November 1999 she has been Chair of the county council's Cabinet and the Executive, Services Development and Investment Committees.

Peter Chalke CBE is Leader of Wiltshire county council. He has been a county councillor since 1982 and Leader of the Conservative Group on Wiltshire county council since 1986. He is also Deputy Leader of the LGA Conservative Group and the LGA Conservative Education Spokesman.