"GOVERNMENT PLANS TO LIMIT TRANSPARENCY MUST BE STOPPED" CLAIMS HEATH

7.08.00pm GMT Tue 20th Jan 2009

After spending close to £1 million of taxpayers' money, and spending 7 months compiling data on MP expenses, the Government wants to limit information available to the public.

On Thursday evening MPs will vote on a statutory instrument which intends to prohibit the public from attaining information about MPs' expenses through Freedom of Information Orders.

David Heath, MP for Somerton and Frome said:

"The House authorities have spent a considerable amount of time and money in preparing for full publication, and this work would now be fruitless if the proposals are passed in entirety.

The question that members should be asking themselves in the run up to the vote on Thursday is 'Do I want to exempt myself from the rules of Freedom of Information?' I do not believe it is right that members such as myself would be exempt from the laws that other public bodies must obey, which is why I will be voting against the governments proposals.

It is essential that parliament is accountable, and to achieve this, our processes including our claims must be transparent. In my capacity as Shadow Leader of the House, I have strongly urged my colleagues to vote against the Freedom of Information (Parliament) Order."