“Show us the money” – PPC Janice Small demands Government opens its books and asks why Mike Wood MP voted against transparency
Local residents have a right to know the true level of public spending in Batley and Spen
PPC Janice Small demanded Gordon Brown to stop dragging his feet over a new law which requires the Government to tell us how much taxpayers’ money is spent in Batley and Spen and in every other part of the country. In Parliament on 28 October, Labour MPs, including Mike Wood, actually voted against a motion calling for more openness on public spending across Kirklees.
The new law, called the Sustainable Communities Act 2007, was introduced by my colleague, Nick Hurd, a Conservative MP and passed by Parliament with wide cross-community support from local and national organisations. It could help fix Britain’s broken politics – by giving local people the power to decide how their cash is spent in their area, and requiring a regular breakdown of spending by central government departments and quangos in new ‘Local Spending Reports’.
More and more taxpayers’ money is being spent by unelected quangos. A new report published on 26 October by the Taxpayers’ Alliance has revealed that quangos now spend an astonishing £90 billion a year – equivalent to £3,640 a year for every household across Batley and Spen.
But Labour Ministers have been trying to water down the new law. They initially only wanted to publish spending by councils and NHS Primary Care Trusts – facts already in the public domain. Further information will only be “developed over time”.
Labour MP Mike Wood voted for the Sustainable Communities Act which provides for openness in Government, yet he voted for a quietly slipped out amendment to water down the openness required by local people to see how their money is spent.
Conservatives are calling for greater openness and accountability, and are pledging to:
· Use the Sustainable Communities Act to publish detailed Local Spending Reports including central government and quangos, and devolve more power to local communities.
· Require Kirklees council to publish online figures for all expenditure on goods and services over £500, as is already being piloted by Windsor and Maidenhead Council.
Janice said:
“As a member of the Taxpayers’ Alliance and as someone who campaigns for openness and transparency in government, it’s time for the Government to show us the money – and tell Kirklees’ residents how much of their money is actually spent in our area. Gordon Brown wants to stop local people finding out that they get a raw deal from his Government, and conceal that his unelected quangocrats spend almost £4,000 a year per household in Kirklees with little or no say for local people.
"I held a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference with Unlock Democracy and Local Works, the two campaign teams that brought the Womens' Institute and the Campaign for Real Ale together - unlikely bedfellowes, together to campaign for this Act, where we had standing room only. There is appetite for transparency.
“Local communities deserve a far greater say on how their money is spent. It’s time for change, and only Conservatives will open up the books and give power back to local people.”
Notes to Editors
GOVERNMENT WATERS DOWN NEW OPENESS RULES
The Sustainable Communities Act 2007 was a Private Members Bill, initiated by Conservative MP, Nick Hurd, with cross-community support from local and national organisations and other political parties.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2007/ukpga_20070023_en_1
The Government is now, very slowly, moving to introduce the provisions of the Act. Section 6 of the Act requires the Government to publish detailed information on spending by local and central government bodies in local areas.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2007/ukpga_20070023_en_1#l1g6
The Act also allows, after detailed consultation with local people, for powers and funding then to be devolved down to a local level, and then allow for such public spending to be focused on the priorities of local people.
In February 2009, the Government quietly slipped out a consultation paper on producing local spending reports under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007. In the small print, the Government completely waters down the requirement to publish local information on public spending. They are only publishing information on local authority spending and NHS Primary Care Trust accounts. Yet this is public domain already. Quango spending will be untouched.
DCLG, Sustainable Communities Act 2007: Local Spending Reports - Consultation Document, 20 February 2009.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/localspendingreportsconsultation
In a newly published response to the consultation, Ministers have refused to change their stance, but they admitted:
“The most popular comment in answer to this part of the consultation question concerned the lack of information contained in the draft report. Many respondents said that more information was needed from central government departments and agencies while others said all spend going into local areas should be identified and included in the reports in order for them to be useful” (p.5).
“While we recognise the clear expectation of the majority of respondents that the reports should include more information from public bodies, many of the other issues raised will need to be considered in more detail before firm proposals could be put forward” (p.11).
DCLG, Sustainable Communities Act 2007: Consultation on developing local spending reports - Summary of responses, 27 October 2009.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/localspendingreportsresponses
Ministers have refused to commit to extending this to other bodies, saying merely that they may be “developed over time”.
“Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons information on the expenditure of Executive agencies is not included in her Department’s proposals for local spending reports under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.
Mr. Khan: Taking responses to the first phase of consultation on this subject into consideration, the first arrangements for the production of the first local spending report were made using information which is currently available to the Government and which do not impose significant costs on other bodies. We are still consulting on how the reports should develop over time through the second phase of the consultation which closes on 15 May 2009. We will publish a response to the second phase later in the summer when we will outline our plans for the longer term development of the local spending reports including the scope for extending the reports to include other agencies. This will enable the Government to develop local spending reports which are useful and whose cost is likely to justify their benefit.”
Hansard , 13 May 2009, col. 814W.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090513/text/90513w0014.htm#09051372003393
GROWING SPENDING BY QUANGOS
According to new research by the Taxpayers’ Alliance, there are 1,152 quangos in the UK in 2007-08, costing the taxpayer £90 billion, equivalent to £3,640 per household, employing 534,000 staff (TPA, ACA to YJB: A Guide to the UK’s Semi-Autonomous Public Bodies, 26 October 2009).
http://www.taxpayersalliance.com/bettergovernment/2009/10/new-research-the-taxpayers-alliance-comprehensive-and-accurate-guide-to-the-semiautonomous-public-bo.html
LABOUR HYPOCRISY
In March 2009, the following Labour MPs endorsed a House of Commons Early Day Motion asserting:
“That this House welcomes the provisions of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 requiring the publication of local spending reports; believes that people have a right to know how their money is spent by public bodies; especially welcomes the assurances given by the Minister for Local Government, the hon. Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth, that the local spending reports will include all public agencies; further welcomes the Minister's assurance that the purpose is to achieve a report that identifies how much will be spent in each area by the authorities; is therefore very alarmed that the consultation now issued on the local spending reports proposes only to include local authorities, including fire authorities and police authorities, and primary care trusts, and to exclude all other public bodies despite the assurances of the Minister; believes it to be unacceptable that this document is now in blatant contravention of the expressed assurances of the Minister; and calls for proper local spending reports to be published, which give effect to those assurances.”
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=38168
Abbott, Diane
Ainger, Nick
Anderson, David
Atkins, Charlotte
Austin, John
Battle, John
Borrow, David S
Caborn, Richard
Campbell, Ronnie
Caton, Martin
Challen, Colin
Chaytor, David
Clapham, Michael
Clark, Katy
Clarke, Tom
Clelland, David
Cohen, Harry
Connarty, Michael
Cook, Frank
Corbyn, Jeremy
Cruddas, Jon
Cryer, Ann
Cummings, John
Cunningham, Jim
Curtis-Thomas, Claire
Dean, Janet
Dobbin, Jim
Dobson, Frank
Dowd, Jim
Drew, David
Etherington, Bill
Farrelly, Paul
Field, Frank
Fisher, Mark
Flynn, Paul
Gapes, Mike
George, Bruce
Godsiff, Roger
Hoey, Kate
Hopkins, Kelvin
Howarth, George
Hoyle, Lindsay
Humble, Joan
Iddon, Brian
Illsley, Eric
Jackson, Glenda
James, Sian C
Jenkins, Brian
Jones, Lynne
Jones, Martyn
Kaufman, Gerald
Kilfoyle, Peter
Levitt, Tom
Linton, Martin
Mann, John
Marsden, Gordon
Marshall-Andrews, Robert
McCafferty, Chris
McDonnell, John
Meacher, Michael
Meale, Alan
Michael, Alun
Mitchell, Austin
Morgan, Julie
Mullin, Chris
Murphy, Denis
Naysmith, Doug
Olner, Bill
Owen, Albert
Plaskitt, James
Pound, Stephen
Prentice, Gordon
Prosser, Gwyn
Reed, Andy
Riordan, Linda
Sarwar, Mohammad
Simpson, Alan
Singh, Marsha
Skinner, Dennis
Smith, Angela C (Sheffield Hillsborough)
Stewart, Ian
Strang, Gavin
Taylor, Dari
Taylor, David
Touhig, Don
Truswell, Paul
Turner, Desmond
Vis, Rudi
Walley, Joan
Wood, Mike
Yet Labour MPs then voted against such a near-identical motion in October 2009.
“That this House welcomes the provisions of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 requiring the publication of local spending reports; believes that people have a right to know how their money is spent by public bodies; especially welcomes the assurances given by the then Minister for Local Government, the hon. Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth, that the local spending reports would include all public agencies; further welcomes the Minister’s assurance that the purpose was to achieve a report that identified how much would be spent in each area by the authorities; is therefore very concerned by the limited information available in the local spending reports produced by the Department for Communities and Local Government; believes them to be a contravention of the expressed assurances of the Minister; and calls for proper local spending reports to be published, which will give effect to those assurances.”
Hansard , 28 October 2009, col. 344; Division 232.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091028/debtext/91028-0013.htm
NOES:
Abbott, Ms Diane
Ainger, Nick
Ainsworth, rh Mr. Bob
Alexander, rh Mr. Douglas
Allen, Mr. Graham
Anderson, Mr. David
Anderson, Janet
Armstrong, rh Hilary
Atkins, Charlotte
Austin, Mr. Ian
Austin, John
Bailey, Mr. Adrian
Baird, Vera
Balls, rh Ed
Banks, Gordon
Barlow, Ms Celia
Barron, rh Mr. Kevin
Beckett, rh Margaret
Begg, Miss Anne
Bell, Sir Stuart
Benn, rh Hilary
Benton, Mr. Joe
Berry, Roger
Betts, Mr. Clive
Blackman, Liz
Blackman-Woods, Dr. Roberta
Blears, rh Hazel
Blizzard, Mr. Bob
Blunkett, rh Mr. David
Borrow, Mr. David S.
Bradshaw, rh Mr. Ben
Brennan, Kevin
Brown, Lyn
Brown, rh Mr. Nicholas
Brown, Mr. Russell
Browne, rh Des
Bryant, Chris
Buck, Ms Karen
Burden, Richard
Burgon, Colin
Butler, Ms Dawn
Byrne, rh Mr. Liam
Caborn, rh Mr. Richard
Cairns, David
Campbell, Mr. Alan
Campbell, Mr. Ronnie
Caton, Mr. Martin
Cawsey, Mr. Ian
Chapman, Ben
Chaytor, Mr. David
Clapham, Mr. Michael
Clark, Ms Katy
Clark, Paul
Clarke, rh Mr. Charles
Clarke, rh Mr. Tom
Clelland, Mr. David
Clwyd, rh Ann
Coaker, Mr. Vernon
Coffey, Ann
Cohen, Harry
Connarty, Michael
Cook, Frank
Cooper, rh Yvette
Crausby, Mr. David
Creagh, Mary
Cruddas, Jon
Cryer, Mrs. Ann
Cummings, John
Cunningham, Tony
David, Mr. Wayne
Davidson, Mr. Ian
Davies, Mr. Quentin
Denham, rh Mr. John
Dhanda, Mr. Parmjit
Dismore, Mr. Andrew
Dobbin, Jim
Dobson, rh Frank
Donohoe, Mr. Brian H.
Doran, Mr. Frank
Drew, Mr. David
Durkan, Mark
Eagle, Angela
Eagle, Maria
Efford, Clive
Ellman, Mrs. Louise
Engel, Natascha
Ennis, Jeff
Farrelly, Paul
Field, rh Mr. Frank
Fisher, Mark
Fitzpatrick, Jim
Flello, Mr. Robert
Flint, rh Caroline
Flynn, Paul
Follett, Barbara
Foster, Mr. Michael (Worcester)
Foster, Michael Jabez (Hastings and Rye)
Francis, Dr. Hywel
Gardiner, Barry
George, rh Mr. Bruce
Gerrard, Mr. Neil
Gilroy, Linda
Godsiff, Mr. Roger
Goggins, rh Paul
Goodman, Helen
Griffith, Nia
Griffiths, Nigel
Grogan, Mr. John
Gwynne, Andrew
Hall, Mr. Mike
Hall, Patrick
Hamilton, Mr. David
Hanson, rh Mr. David
Harman, rh Ms Harriet
Havard, Mr. Dai
Healey, rh John
Hepburn, Mr. Stephen
Heppell, Mr. John
Hesford, Stephen
Hewitt, rh Ms Patricia
Heyes, David
Hill, rh Keith
Hillier, Meg
Hodge, rh Margaret
Hodgson, Mrs. Sharon
Hood, Mr. Jim
Hoon, rh Mr. Geoffrey
Hope, Phil
Hopkins, Kelvin
Howarth, rh Mr. George
Howells, rh Dr. Kim
Hoyle, Mr. Lindsay
Humble, Mrs. Joan
Hutton, rh Mr. John
Iddon, Dr. Brian
Ingram, rh Mr. Adam
Irranca-Davies, Huw
James, Mrs. Siân C.
Jenkins, Mr. Brian
Johnson, rh Alan
Johnson, Ms Diana R.
Jones, Helen
Jones, Mr. Kevan
Jones, Lynne
Jones, Mr. Martyn
Jowell, rh Tessa
Joyce, Mr. Eric
Keeble, Ms Sally
Keeley, Barbara
Keen, Alan
Keen, Ann
Kelly, rh Ruth
Kemp, Mr. Fraser
Kennedy, rh Jane
Khan, rh Mr. Sadiq
Kidney, Mr. David
Kilfoyle, Mr. Peter
Knight, rh Jim
Kumar, Dr. Ashok
Ladyman, Dr. Stephen
Lammy, rh Mr. David
Laxton, Mr. Bob
Lazarowicz, Mark
Lepper, David
Levitt, Tom
Lewis, Mr. Ivan
Linton, Martin
Lloyd, Tony
Love, Mr. Andrew
Lucas, Ian
MacShane, rh Mr. Denis
Mactaggart, Fiona
Mahmood, Mr. Khalid
Malik, Mr. Shahid
Mallaber, Judy
Mann, John
Marris, Rob
Marsden, Mr. Gordon
Marshall-Andrews, Mr. Robert
Martlew, Mr. Eric
McAvoy, rh Mr. Thomas
McCabe, Steve
McCafferty, Chris
McCarthy, Kerry (Teller)
McCarthy-Fry, Sarah
McCartney, rh Mr. Ian
McDonagh, Siobhain
McDonnell, John
McFadden, rh Mr. Pat
McFall, rh John
McGovern, Mr. Jim
McIsaac, Shona
McKechin, Ann
McKenna, Rosemary
McNulty, rh Mr. Tony
Meacher, rh Mr. Michael
Merron, Gillian
Michael, rh Alun
Miliband, rh Edward
Miller, Andrew
Mitchell, Mr. Austin
Moffatt, Laura
Mole, Chris
Moon, Mrs. Madeleine
Morden, Jessica
Morgan, Julie
Morley, rh Mr. Elliot
Mudie, Mr. George
Mullin, Mr. Chris
Munn, Meg
Murphy, Mr. Denis
Murphy, rh Mr. Paul
Naysmith, Dr. Doug
Norris, Dan
O'Brien, rh Mr. Mike
Owen, Albert
Palmer, Dr. Nick
Pearson, Ian
Plaskitt, Mr. James
Pound, Stephen
Prentice, Bridget
Prentice, Mr. Gordon
Primarolo, rh Dawn
Prosser, Gwyn
Purchase, Mr. Ken
Purnell, rh James
Raynsford, rh Mr. Nick
Reed, Mr. Andy
Reed, Mr. Jamie
Riordan, Mrs. Linda
Robertson, John
Robinson, Mr. Geoffrey
Rooney, Mr. Terry
Roy, Lindsay
Ruane, Chris
Russell, Christine
Ryan, rh Joan
Sarwar, Mr. Mohammad
Seabeck, Alison
Shaw, Jonathan
Sheerman, Mr. Barry
Sheridan, Jim
Simon, Mr. Siôn
Skinner, Mr. Dennis
Slaughter, Mr. Andy
Smith, rh Mr. Andrew
Smith, rh Angela E. (Basildon)
Smith, Geraldine
Smith, rh Jacqui
Snelgrove, Anne
Soulsby, Sir Peter
Southworth, Helen
Spellar, rh Mr. John
Starkey, Dr. Phyllis
Stoate, Dr. Howard
Straw, rh Mr. Jack
Sutcliffe, Mr. Gerry
Tami, Mark
Taylor, David
Thomas, Mr. Gareth
Thornberry, Emily
Timms, rh Mr. Stephen
Tipping, Paddy
Todd, Mr. Mark
Touhig, rh Mr. Don
Trickett, Jon
Truswell, Mr. Paul
Turner, Mr. Neil
Twigg, Derek
Ussher, Kitty
Vis, Dr. Rudi
Walley, Joan
Waltho, Lynda
Ward, Claire
Watson, Mr. Tom
Watts, Mr. Dave
Whitehead, Dr. Alan
Wicks, rh Malcolm
Williams, rh Mr. Alan
Williams, Mrs. Betty
Wilson, Phil
Winnick, Mr. David
Winterton, rh Ms Rosie
Wood, Mike
Woodward, rh Mr. Shaun
Woolas, Mr. Phil
Wright, Mr. Anthony
Wright, David (Teller)
Wright, Mr. Iain
Wright, Dr. Tony
Wyatt, Derek
Picture shows Janice with Nick Hurd MP and Oliver Letwin, two supporters of the Show us the Money Campaign
ENDS
|
