Disclosing ministerial meetings with pressure groups

In light of today's PMQs and the debate about whether MPs should be excluded from Freedom of Information requests, it's worth pointing out that ministers can't decide themselves whether they can or can't answer questions about meetings they've had. Norman Baker has been asking some dull questions (and, yes, I know he's a LibDem) and receiving some interesting answers. They all appear under the title of "Departments: Pressure Groups" in the relevant section of Hansard.

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if she will list the meetings between Ministers from her Department and outside interest groups which took place between 1st January and 31st March. [132437]

Hilary Armstrong: Ministers and civil servants meet a large number of people and groups in the course of their official duties. It is not normal practice to disclose details of such meetings.

It is, of course, possible that different departments have different normal practices, but not when you look at this answer

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his meetings with outside interest groups which took place between 1 January and 31 March. [132436]

The Prime Minister: My officials and I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a range of subjects. Information relating to internal meetings, discussion and advice is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

which suggests that any such discussion would be harmful. One wonders, then, why Jack Straw gave this answer:

Norman Baker: To ask the Leader of the House if he will list the meetings between Ministers from his Office and outside interest groups which took place between 1st January and 31st March. [132438]

Mr. Straw: Ministers from the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons met with representatives of outside interest groups nine times during the period specified. I have set out details of those meetings in the following table. This includes, where appropriate, certain speaking engagements.

Date of Meeting	Outside Interest Group or Body M et
Thursday 15th February 2007	Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK
Thursday 15th February 2007	Hindu Council UK
Tuesday 20th February 2007	Hansard Society
Wednesday 21st February 2007	New Local Government Network
Thursday 22nd February 2007	Public and Commercial Services Union
Thursday 8th March 2007	Trade Union General Secretaries
Thursday 15th March 2007	Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
Thursday 22nd March 2007	Muslim Council of Britain
Friday 23rd March 2007	Electronic Data System Ltd.

and why Peter Hain gave this even more fulsome answer:

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the meetings between Ministers from his Department and outside interest groups which took place between 1 January and 31 March 2007. [132434]

Mr. Hain: Ministers at the Wales Office met with the following non-governmental organisations between 1 January and 31 March:

Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research

Post Office Counters Ltd. Wales

National Federation of Postmasters

National Grid

National Audit Office

General Dynamics

Severn Tidal Power Group


First Great Western

Milford Haven Port Authority

Narberth Museum

The Motor Sports Association

Institute of Chartered Accountants

Visteon Corporation

Local Government Network

University of Wales Swansea

Dragon Feeds

National Botanical Gardens of Wales

National Autistic Society

Swansea Waterfront Museum

Friends of the Earth

It does seem like the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing in the civil service.

xD.

4/25/2007 05:07:00 pm / / Permalink / / 0 Comments / /

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