§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. Christopher Leslie):I have today placed in the Library of the House the Standards Board for England's Annual Report and Accounts for 2001–02.
30WSThe Report and Accounts cover the period when the Standards Board for England was being established and was putting in place its basic procedures. Since May 2002—shortly after the period covered in this report—all local authorities in England have been required to adopt a new Code of Conduct and it has been open to anyone to make an allegation of misconduct to the Standards Board.
The Annual Report sets out very clearly the role of the Standards Board and describes the approach which the Board is seeking to take to handling complaints and to working with other regulators. Importantly, the report emphasises very strongly that the Standards Board will seek to work in partnership with councils, offering support and advice in a joint effort to promote high standards and confidence in local democracy.