§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Phil Hope)I have today laid the Standards Board for England's Annual Report and Accounts for 2002–03.
The Report and Accounts cover the first year of significant operations by the Standards Board for England. At the end of March 2003, 2,948 allegations of misconduct had been referred to the Standards Board since the introduction of the Code of Conduct in May 2002.
As the Annual Report shows, the Board is continuing to work in partnership with local government to promote and sustain the high standards of conduct which are essential to public confidence in our local democracy.
Copies of the Report are available in the Libraries of the House.