Clause 9
Child Poverty Bill
Public Bill Committees, 29 October 2009, 2:00 pm
Andrew Selous (Shadow Minister, Work and Pensions; South West Bedfordshire, Conservative)
The hon. Lady has explained her amendment well. It is a perfectly sensible amendment, which seeks clarity and transparency. I have no problem with the fact that advisers advise and Ministers decide. That is the prerogative of power, which the two Ministers in Committee enjoy. If Ministers come to a contrary view, which they are perfectly entitled to do, following any advice that they are given, it is reasonable for them to justify why they have taken a different decision and to put that in the public domain. Time may prove them right. The amendment is about public openness and transparency, and it is sensible.