§ Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he intends to take in the light of responses to his consultation paper in which he proposed to amend section 101(1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to restrict the rights of the public to inspect at the time of audit information which an authority holds about its employees; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangMy right hon. and learned Friend has decided in the light of the responses received to his consultation paper to seek at the next convenient opportunity an amendment to section 101(1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 so that all information relating to employees of local authorities, audited under part VIII of the 1973 Act, should be excluded from public inspection, except information about gross pay, allowances, bonuses and overtime payments, which would continue to be open to inspect at time of audit. My right hon. and learned Friend considers that such an amendment would strike an acceptable balance between safeguarding personal privacy and providing adequate458W public inspection to ensure proper accountability. It also corresponds with similar action being taken by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Wales.