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
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.
