Clause 46 - General functions of the Council
Water Bill [Lords]
10:15 am
Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 83, in
clause 46, page 52, line 26, after 'obtaining', insert 'publishing'.
This is not a particularly difficult proposal. It relates to the interests of consumers and the general functioning of the council, especially the acquisition and review of information. Like all members of the Committee, I am keen on transparency, which is a word the Minister uses almost as much as proportionality. The amendment would ensure that once the information is obtained, it will be available to the public because the council will be forced to publish it. Of course, sensitive information should not be published, but the amendment seeks to tease out the Government's thinking and to ensure that the Bill provides that information that can be published will be published. The amendment is intended to provide transparency, and I hope that the Government will take it in that way.