Clause 94
Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill
5:15 pm
Andrew Gwynne (PPS (Rt Hon Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC, Minister of State), Home Office; Denton and Reddish, Labour)
I want to be equally brief. I accept all the arguments made by the hon. Gentleman in respect of amendment No. 119, but it does not go far enough. As I stated in the debate on clause 79, it is not just about those contracted to partner authorities, but about a range of other organisations. That is why the amendment in my name and that of my hon. Friends the Members for City of Durham and for Plymouth, Devonport, which, sadly, was not selected, suggested including other bodies providing services to the public locally.
I should like to explain, from local experience, why this matter is so important. Committee members who are groupies at Department for Constitutional Affairs questions will know that I am forever talking about freedom of information.