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<p> </p><p>Further to the information provided in my previous answers, my Department
has not at this point undertaken a recent, definitive survey of every council in the
country. It is a moving picture, as the commencement of the Local Audit and Accountability
Act has encouraged greater compliance with the Publicity Code – for example, further
to my answer of 21 November 2013, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 980W, I understand
that East Northamptonshire has stopped its newspaper.</p><p>Such local initiatives
are preferable to intervention. Notwithstanding, I refer the rt. hon. Member to the
Written Ministerial Statement of 28 April 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 35WS,
which outlines the rationale for the steps taken on 17 April against five specific
councils with the worst breaches, and which notes how we are prepared to take further
action against other breaches of the Publicity Code.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
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