Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Pope
Hi, I'm happy to explain where I stand on MPs and freedom of information. First of all I didn't vote on this Bill because, like most MPs, I had arranged to spend that Friday on meetings in my constituency
|
OK, Greg, fair enough, but I'm still not clear where you stand on this. Supposing you had been there - how would you have voted? Because on the one hand you're saying that you're in favour of MP's expenses being published, yet you think this bill is the wrong way of going about it. Seems like a classic case of fence-sitting to me!
I'd also like to take issue with you on your view that correspondence between MPs and constituents has ended up in the public domain because of the FOIA. Gary has already highlighted a perfect example of this sort of scaremongering which is being used as smokescreen to get this exemption through. It's my understanding that Section 40(2) of the FOIA exempts information whose disclosure would be a breach of the data protection principles contained in the Data Protection Act. And as the article that Gary has brought to our attention highlights, there are practically no instances of this happening, anyway.
What is most disgraceful, in my view, is the fact that the front benches of the two major parties could have killed this private member's bill stone dead. They deliberately chose not to - a classic illustration of the contempt which they have for us mere mortals who pay their wages - and expenses!