HC Deb 25 March 2004 vol 419 cc1044-5W
Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he last reviewed the disciplinary process for local government statutory officers: and if he will make a statement. [162879]

Mr. Raynsford

The arrangements under which a council handles any allegation of misconduct by its head of paid service, monitoring officer or chief finance officer were last amended in 2001. We have no plans to review them.

Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local government statutory officers have been(a) suspended and (b) dismissed in each year since the current disciplinary processes were enacted; and if he will make a statement. [162886]

Mr. Raynsford

The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what circumstances a local government statutory officer can be(a) suspended and (b) dismissed; and if he will make a statement. [162887]

Mr. Raynsford

The Local Authorities (Standing Orders)(England) Regulations 2001 set out the arrangements for councils to handle allegations of misconduct by their head of paid service, monitoring officer or chief finance officer. These arrangements provide that no disciplinary action (apart from suspension in order to allow investigation of the allegation) may be taken by a local authority in respect of such officers other than in accordance with a recommendation in a report made by an independent person appointed under the Regulations to investigate the allegation. If the authority does suspend the officer it must be on full pay and may only be for a maximum period of two months. The independent person may, once appointed, choose to extend the period of suspension if he feels it necessary to enable him to carry out his investigation.

Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the(a) average and (b) longest elapsed times between initiation of the disciplinary process and (i) suspension and (ii) dismissal in cases involving local government statutory officers has been since the current regulations were enacted; and if he will make a statement. [162888]

Mr. Raynsford

The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.