asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement outlining progress in the consultations with bodies affected by the recommendations of the Royal commission on standards of conduct in public life, Cmnd. 6524, to which he referred in his answer of 16th May 1977 to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr.
The process of consultation is now nearly complete. Its results are being studied by my right hon. Friends who have responsibility for the various aspects of the Royal Commission's report. On matters which can be dealt with separately in advance of legislation, action has been or will be taken as decisions are reached. On police procedures for handling allegations of corruption, for example, I announced new arrangements in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Garrett) on 25th May this year.—[Vol. 950, c. 664.] But consideration of the Royal Commission's report as a whole, and of its recommendations for amendment of the law, is a major task, and it will be some time yet before a comprehensive statement of the Government's conclusions can be made.