Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the status is of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in UK (a) law and (b) governance.

The European Charter of Local Self-Government is an international legal instrument, and as such, the principles of local self-government which it enumerates are recognised in the domestic legislation that makes provision for the powers and procedures of local government. We will continue to fully comply with our obligations under the Charter.