Written question asked by Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative) on Wednesday, 11 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 13 March 2009. It was answered by Sadiq Khan (Labour) on Tuesday, 17 March 2009 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Councillors: Arun

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 19 January 2009, Official Report, columns 1072-3W, on councillors: Arun, whether the Audit Commission has requested councillors in other local authorities to provide their personal bank account details; and what penalty applies in respect of non-compliance with such a request from the Audit Commission.

Answer: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 17 March 2009:"Your Parliamentary question on whether the Audit Commission has requested councillors in other local authorities to provide their personal bank account details; and what penalty for non-compliance applies in respect of such a request from the Audit Commission has been passed to me for reply.""All local authorities were required to provide payroll data, including but not restricted to councillors bank account details, for NFI 2008/09 in October 2008. This information was required under powers in Part 2A of the Audit Commission Act 1998. Failure to provide the required data without reasonable excuse is an offence for which an individual, on summary conviction, is liable to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale plus an additional fine of up to £20 for each day that the offence continues after conviction. Currently, a level 3 fine can be for an amount up to £1,000.""A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard."

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 489 c1101-2W;489 c1103-4W; 263829
Session: 2008-09
Related items: Councillors: Arun
Monday, 19 January 2009
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Councillors Arun
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk