To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department provides on the role of hon. Members as members of (a) local strategic partnerships and (b) working groups appointed by local strategic partnerships.

In July 2008 the Department published statutory guidance "Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities" which sets out key elements of the local performance framework including the role of local strategic partnerships (LSPs). It recognises that LSPs are a collection of organisations and representatives coming together voluntary to work in partnership, they are not statutory bodies.

It is for local areas to determine the arrangements that best suit local circumstances. The guidance therefore deliberately does not prescribe membership and members' roles for local strategic partnerships or their working groups.