asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report those matters of policy in which he and his predecessors have made general dispensations to permit local and county councillors to vote and speak in exemption from the provisions of section 94 of the Local Government Act 1972 and also list the policy areas in which it is still necessary for councillors to seek dispensation.
Two general dispensations have been issued and are currently in force. The first relates to tenants of unfurnished accommodation when discussing matters of general housing policy: the second, made on 16 January, relates to parents of children in full time education when discussing school meals, milk and transport. It remains necessary for councillors to seek dispensations for all other policy areas, if they conclude they have a pecuniary interest and if they wish to take part in the authority's consideration of those matters.