Members’ Expenses

Simon Hughes
9. To ask the Leader of the House what assessment she has made of public opinion on arrangements for the publication of information on hon. Members' expenses.

Chris Bryant
The Government brought forward proposals to exempt information about payments made to hon. Members from the provisions of the Act in the belief that they would command general support in all parts of the House. When it became clear that they did not, we withdrew the proposals.

We are still proposing a new publication scheme, with more categories of voluntary publication than ever before, and a rigorous system of audit and assurance of hon. Members' allowances.

John Mann
To ask the Leader of the House (1) what discussions she has had with other hon. Members in advance of her decision to propose the exemption of hon. Members from provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to claims for expenses;

(2) how many letters she has received from hon. Members requesting exemption or partial exemption from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000;

(3) which external bodies she consulted on her proposal to exempt hon. Members from provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to hon. Members’ claims for expenses.

Chris Bryant
My right hon. Friend has frequent private communications with Members from all parts of the House on a range of issues relating to her ministerial responsibilities.

No external bodies were consulted about the tabling of the draft Freedom of Information (Parliament) Order 2009.