Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Damien Moore (Conservative) on Monday, 20 March 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 23 March 2023 (named day). It was answered by Lee Rowley (Conservative) on Thursday, 23 March 2023 on behalf of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Local Government: Publicity

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Local Government and Building safety to the hon. Member for Southport on 27 February, when he will provide the update promised in that letter on potential breaches of the publicity code by Sefton Council.

Answer

The Publicity Code is guidance to which local authorities must have regard when producing publicity, defined as “any communication in whatever form, addressed to the public at large or a section of the public”. The Local Government Act 1986 gives the Secretary of State the power to issue Directions to secure compliance with one or more specified provisions of the Code, or all the provisions of the Code.

The Department has made enquiries with Sefton Council Chief Executive on this matter on two separate occasions in recent months and the Council’s responses are currently under active consideration. If and when a decision is taken to exercise the power to issue Directions that decision will be placed in the public domain in due course.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
169418
Session
2022-23
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Codes of practice Local government Publicity Sefton
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk