Lord Bruce of Doningtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why there is a gap of six weeks between the holding of monthly monetary meetings between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Governor of the Bank of England and the publication of the Minutes of such meetings.
The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknisaah)The publication of the minutes of the monthly monetary meetings helps to increase accountability and improves the transparency of the policy process. As a result UK monetary policy has become one of the most open in the world. Earlier publication of the minutes would complicate the short-term conduct of policy.