§ Norman LambTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many parish councillors in England and Wales have signed up to the new Parish Councils Code of Conduct; [63798]
(2) how many parish councillors in England and Wales have resigned since the introduction of the new Parish Councils Code of Conduct; [63799]
(3) if he will make a statement on the position of parish councillors in England and Wales who do not sign the Parish Councils Code of Conduct. [63800]
629W
§ Mr. RaynsfordOver 4,300 parish councils in England have notified the Standards Board for England that they have adopted new codes of conduct. No central records are kept of the number of individual councillors who have given an undertaking to observe the code.
Parish councillors are under no obligation to inform the Government or the Standards Board if they choose to resign. Around 30 parish councillors have written informing us that they have resigned in response to the introduction of the code of conduct.
All parish councillors are now subject to the code. On election, new parish councillors must give a written undertaking to observe the code before taking office. When a council has adopted a code, its existing members must within two months give a written undertaking to observe the code, or cease to be councillors. In those councils which have not yet adopted a code, there is no obligation on existing councillors to give a written undertaking to observe a code, although all such councillors are subject to the provisions of the national code. In Wales, these matters are the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.