Clause 47 - Duty to inspect records
Traffic Management Bill
4:30 pm
Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire, Conservative)
In a rather throw-away line the Minister said that the provisions build on the existing position, where the records are available free of charge. Can he clarify the use of the word ''build''? I hope that it does not mean that charges will be introduced in future. The clause refers to making regulations. Does the Minister take the view that access to the records should still be free of charge to those who need to inspect them?
On the point made by the hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Mr. Miller), in the light of the Government's stated intention to provide more and more information on the internet, why could this information not be on an intranet, to which those authorised to carry out the work could have access? They would then not have to send an employee to the council offices to start looking through pieces of paper, but could delegate a member of staff in their own office to go on to the intranet and find out the information much more quickly, efficiently and cheaply?