Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 3:15 pm on 27 October 2008.
My Lords, we do not think that necessary. I am sorry that I cannot give a firm commitment on the record. If the noble Baroness thinks there are ways in which we can strengthen that commitment and put it on the record, I shall be happy to consider them. We have to accept that we are all dealing in good faith on this, but we need flexibility if we are to achieve what she seeks. To put something very rigid in place may not fit that purpose. There will be plenty of information in the accounts, but we recognise that that will be historic information that will be looked at in retrospect. We are trying to help the noble Baroness with a forward look at the information that she seeks, in a way that is consistent with commercial confidentiality. I hope that by putting it on the record today, the noble Baroness, her colleagues and the rest of the House will be prepared to accept that assurance.
I can give chapter and verse, if necessary, on the ability of the Secretary of State to cause that to happen and to cause those data to flow from PADA or the trustee corporation, which is enshrined in various bits of the legislation. We jousted a little on that on the previous day on Report.