Oral Answers to Questions

John Pugh Excerpts

Thursday 10th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Robert Neill]

I hope that the right hon. Gentleman recognises that, if we are to have sustainable, quality local government services, the first thing we have to do is get this country’s economic mess sorted out.

[Dr John Pugh (Southport) (LD)]

6. What steps he plans to take to abolish the Standards Board for England.

[Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con)]

14. What steps he plans to take to abolish the Standards Board for England.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Andrew Stunell)]

We shall be abolishing the Standards Board for England. The necessary legislation will be in our localism Bill, announced in the Queen's Speech.

[Dr Pugh]

I thank the Minister for that answer and welcome him to his position. He brings enormous experience of local government to the post.

We all agree that £10 million could be better spent to better effect, but what rights of appeal will there be if the local process goes wrong or goes amiss, as it sometimes does?

[Andrew Stunell]

I thank my hon. Friend for his welcome. He is right that a safety net is needed, and we are in discussion with our local government colleagues about the most appropriate way of moving forward.