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Written question asked by James Cleverly (Conservative) on Friday, 10 April 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 14 April 2026. It was answered by Alison McGovern (Labour) on Monday, 20 April 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority: Lexington Communications

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2026, to Question 113631, on West Yorkshire Combined Authority: Lexington Communications, and of 12 March 2026, to Question 117739, on Local Government: Lobbying, whether he considers the Lexington contract has broken his Department’s Local Government Publicity Code.

Answer

Local authorities are required to have regard to the Recommended Code of Practice on Local Authority Publicity when making decisions about publicity. Responsibility for compliance with the Code rests with individual authorities. Where the Secretary of State considers that an authority is not complying with the Code, he has powers under section 4 of the Local Government Act 1986 to issue a direction requiring the authority to comply. Any concerns regarding compliance should in the first instance be directed to the authority concerned. Following this, if the Rt Hon. Member still has concerns about West Yorkshire Combined Authority, he may wish to write to the Department setting out the relevant evidence.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
124733
Session
2024-26
Related items
Local Government: Lobbying
Thursday, 12 March 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Local Government: Reorganisation
Friday, 4 September 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Codes of practice Local government Lobbying West Yorkshire Combined Authority Lexington Communications
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk