Clause 2
Local Transport Bill [Lords]
12:15 pm
Greg Knight (East Yorkshire, Conservative)
I am a little bit disappointed and puzzled by that response. Here we have a Government who are committed to openness and who introduced the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Prime Minister has said that those in public life should be transparent with their expenses, and yet the Minister has given us the pledge that they will consider consulting on these matters. I find it difficult to understand why she cannot accept the principle and say, “Yes, we will publish those items. We will consult on the precise scope, but the actual publication is not something that we will consult on because we will do it.” If that is what she meant to say, I am happy to give way to her. As I understand it, she is going to consult on whether or not the information should be released. I have to say that I do not think that that is good enough. The details should be published. Of course, one must have discussions about how it is done and what the scope is, but I would have thought that she could have given a pledge on the principle to the Committee today. She has failed to do that, and because of that I am minded to support the amendment of the hon. Member for Lewes.