§ Simon HughesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complaints have been received by the Standards Board for England since May 2002; and of these, how many(a) have so far proceeded to investigation stage, (b) were up held and (c) are outstanding. [96848]
§ Mr. RaynsfordBetween May 2002 and December 2002 (the latest date for which full figures are available) the Standards Board for England received 1,985 allegations of councillor misconduct.
Of those 1,985 allegations, (a) 695 were referred for investigation; (b) 41 have led to a referral to the Adjudication Panel for England; (c) 160 are awaiting consideration by the Standards Board as to whether to refer the case for investigation and 506 are under investigation.
1 On 16 January the Adjudication Panel heard the first case referred by an Ethical Standards Officer. The Panel concluded that the code had been breached, and the Councillor concerned was suspended for one year from being a member of his authority.
§ Simon HughesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average length has been of an investigation by the Standards Board for England since 2002. [96849]
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§ Mr. RaynsfordThe average length of an investigation completed by the Standards Board during 2002 to the present date, from referral of an allegation from the board to ESO final finding, is four months.
§ Simon HughesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the budget is for the Standards Board for England in 2002–03; and what the average cost is of an investigation by the Standards Board for England. [96850]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Standards Board for England's budget for 2002–03, as set out in the Board's Corporate Plan (which is available in the Library of the House) is £7.9 million.
A figure for the average cost of an investigation is not yet available.