Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Standards in Public Life: Local Authorities

Monday 24 January 2022 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Mark Garnier asked the Minister about steps to ensure standards in public life at the local authority level, to which the Minister thanked Garnier and stated a commitment to respond to the report's recommendations shortly.
  • The Minister was asked about the acceptability of Scottish Conservative councillors' behavior regarding an anonymous Twitter account, to which the Minister suggested consulting the Committee on Standards in Public Life's report for guidance without directly addressing the acceptability of the behavior.
  • Mike Amesbury questioned the classification of local authority funding in the north as "levelling up" given the disparity in funding, to which the Minister referred Amesbury to the provisional local government settlement showing an increase in core spending power.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mark Garnier Con Wyre Forest
Standards & Ethics
Context

The question addresses the issue of ensuring high ethical standards in local government, citing a specific case involving multiple sanctions for a councillor in Wyre Forest District Council.

Question

What steps he is taking to ensure standards in public life are upheld at local authority level. I am sure that you of all people, Mr Speaker, would agree that standards of politicians at every level are not always observed. On Wyre Forest District Council, a local councillor has been sanctioned for the fourth time for standards breaches. Can the Minister confirm if and when the Government will legislate to implement their recommendations and that any legislation will equip councils with more robust sanctions?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

The Minister thanked my hon. Friend for raising this important issue and confirmed that she is actively considering the recommendations set out in the report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, with a commitment to respond shortly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm specific legislative timeline or robust sanctions

How: Actively Considering, Responding Shortly

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Mark Garnier Con Wyre Forest
Standards & Ethics
Context

The question refers to a case of a Conservative councillor in Angus who was found behind an anonymous anti-SNP Twitter account, engaging in misogynistic commentary.

Question

Does the Minister think that it is acceptable for Scottish Conservative councillors to behave as described by the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Mark Garnier) when he raised concerns about a senior Conservative councillor being unmasked as the author of an anonymous anti-SNP Twitter account with misogynistic commentary?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

The Minister stated that she does not know the details of the case specifically but suggested looking at the recommendations in the report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life for relevant guidance.

Not addressed: Did not address whether the behaviour was acceptable, instead referred to committee report

How: Do Not Know Details, Looking At Report

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens
Standards & Ethics
Context

The question concerns the behaviour of a senior Conservative councillor in Angus who was found behind an anonymous anti-SNP Twitter account.

Question

Does the Minister think that it is acceptable for Scottish Conservative councillors to behave as described by the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Mark Garnier) when he raised concerns about a senior Conservative councillor being unmasked as the author of an anonymous anti-SNP Twitter account with misogynistic commentary?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

The Minister suggested looking at the recommendations in the report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life for relevant guidance and did not directly address whether the behaviour was acceptable.

Not addressed: Did not address whether the behaviour was acceptable, instead referred to committee report

How: Looking At Report

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Mike Amesbury Lab
Local Government
Context

The question criticises the levelling up rhetoric versus reality of local government funding in northern areas.

Question

Despite the language and rhetoric of levelling up, how can we have local authority funding in the north of £413 per person over 10 years and spending of just £32 per person and it be classed as levelling up? The Secretary of State is getting a reputation for himself in the Wirral for closing down, laying off, and hollowing out with libraries, leisure centres and public sector workers facing the chop. At what stage does he intend to get a grip and level up local government finances?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

The hon. Gentleman will know that the provisional local government settlement was published, showing a significant increase in core spending power.

Not addressed: Did not address issues of funding disparity and service cuts, instead referenced settlement publication

How: Referenced Settlement

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Andy Carter
Energy Local Government
Context

The question concerns the collapse of an energy company in which Warrington Borough Council invested £50 million.

Question

Last week, the energy company in which Warrington Borough Council bought a 50% stake collapsed. My constituents are rightly concerned that £50 million of public money was invested in a loss-making company. Will the Minister meet me to look at what steps we can take to protect local services and what lessons we can learn from governance in local authorities.

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

The Minister responded with a simple 'Yes.' without elaborating on specifics or timelines.

Not addressed: Did not provide details on steps for protecting local services or learning from governance issues

How: Simple Yes

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email