PUBLIC SECTOR: DETR urged to speed up publicity review

The Department of Environment, Transport and The Regions is being urged to speed up a review of its publicity code, as required by the Local Government Bill. Although the Society of County and Unitary Public Relations Officers submitted a draft publicity code in March, there has been no progress since. According to Peter Berry, the City of York Council assistant CEO, the current code (drawn up in 1988) 'is making life very difficult and hindering the flow of information to the public'. He said the two bodies must 'start talking detail'.