To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance has been given to local authorities on the use of public funds to campaign in local referendums. (251731)

The Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity, first issued in 1988 and revised in 2001, which local authorities must have regard to, states that local authority publicity should not be capable as being perceived as seeking to influence public support for, or opposition to, the referendum proposals and should not associate support for, or opposition to, the proposals with any individual or group.