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Expenses move risks further tarnishing Parliament - Swinson

January 17, 2009 8:40 PM

Houses of Parliament (Commons) / Westminster Clock Tower (Big Ben)Liberal Democrat MP for East Dunbartonshire, Jo Swinson, will on Monday table a parliamentary motion against the Government's decision to exempt MPs from publishing full details of their expenses.

The motion criticises the "regressive effect" of the move on Parliamentary transparency.

Commenting, Jo Swinson said: "Ministers should not be cooking up plans to keep MPs' expenses hidden from public view. With this new legislation in force, it will be one rule for MPs and another for everyone else.

"This move just gives the impression that MPs have something to hide. Ministers must prevent it coming into force, to prevent further damage being done to the already tarnished image of Parliament as far as expenses are concerned."

The full text of the Early Day Motion is below.

Freedom of Information (Parliament) Order 2009

That this House notes with concern the provisions in the Freedom of Information (Parliament) Order 2009 to remove the expenses of Members of Parliament and Peers from the scope of the Freedom of Information Act; notes that this order will single out MPs and Peers in a special category as the only public officials who will note have to disclose full details of their expenses; notes with concern the regressive effect of this Order on Parliamentary transparency and the detrimental impact it will have on Parliament in the eyes of the public; calls on Ministers to block or repeal the Order in the interest of MPs' and Peers' accountability to members of the public.

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