§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what ways he proposes to make his Department more open. [22098]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsWe are making the Department more open in a number of ways. We propose to make the economic powerhouse subject to the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 as a means of demonstrating our commitment to greater openness and transparency. My right hon. Friend has already opened to consultation a number of important areas, including seeking views on Welsh Office expenditure before taking decisions on budget allocations. New policies, such as the childcare strategy for Wales, are being developed with the help of independent and representative groups and through wide consultation, rather than within the confines of the Welsh Office. Openness is also a matter of culture and we have made a point of ensuring that answers to Parliamentary Questions and correspondence are as informative as possible. We will ensure that there will be further steps in the spirit of the current White Paper on Freedom of Information.