§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the number and names of local authorities which publish the names of people in mortgage arrears in publicly available committee minutes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeNone. It is for each local authority to decide what to include in its council or committee minutes. They have a discretion, under the provisions of schedule I to the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, not to make public information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, or to any particular applicant for, or recipient of, any service provided by the authority, which they would otherwise be required to make public under that Act.