HC Deb 12 May 1998 vol 312 cc81-2W
Mr. Dafis

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to state which exemption of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information is being invoked to prevent the release of information in answer to parliamentary questions. [40873]

Dawn Primarolo

Treasury Ministers would expect to explain the reasons why information could not be provided in answer to parliamentary questions.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to his answer of 6 March 1998,Official Report, column 817, which exemption in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information makes publication of the correspondence inappropriate; [40870]

(2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon) of 12 March 1998, Official Report, column 313, on VAT rates on housing works, which exemption in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information makes publication of the correspondence inappropriate. [40874]

Dawn Primarolo

Exemptions 1 and 2 apply.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many answers to parliamentary questions his Department has declined to provide information because it was inappropriate under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information since 1 May 1997; and what subjects those questions concerned. [40867]

Dawn Primarolo

Treasury records show that in the case of some 19 of the 3,500 or so parliamentary answers given by Ministers in the present Parliament the information sought was not made available as is permitted under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. These questions concerned such matters as individuals' tax affairs, personal information relating to officials, representations made to Ministers in confidence on commercial and other matters and internal discussions and advice on various policy issues.

Additionally, Treasury Ministers have traditionally declined to disclose in advance information relating to the Chancellor' s Budget statement. In innumerable other instances, statistical and other information either is not available or cannot be presented in the form requested.