Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill

Yes, Clause 203 provides that the granting and supervision of exemptions of local authority posts from political restrictions will become the responsibility of the standards committee of each authority, rather than that of the independent adjudicator, who is an independent office holder appointed by the Secretary of State. The clause also provides for the Secretary of State, after consulting representatives of local government, to issue general advice to assist standards committees in making their decisions on political restrictions. The term ““general advice”” is there because, since 1989, that term has been used by the independent adjudicator and it is commonly used. It has statutory force and is interchangeable with ““guidance””. I agree with the noble Baroness that it is rather confusing, so I shall take this matter away and think about it.