§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the process by which she decides whether an announcement is too controversial to be made in a pre-election period. [52890]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 26 April 2002]: The Prime Minister publishes standard guidance on this matter before each election. The guidance published on 21 March 2002, referring to the English local elections to be held on 2 May 2002, made it clear that
particular care should be exercised in relation to the announcement of sensitive decisions with a local dimension".My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State considers each case on its merits in the light of this.