NHS: Risk Register

Lord Peston Excerpts

Tuesday 15th May 2012 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My noble friend makes an extremely good point because there are sensitive matters that any Government will inevitably wish to keep confidential if good government is to be maintained.

[Lord Peston]

My Lords, it is trivially obvious that all decision-making—

[Baroness Jolly]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Earl Howe]

In answer to that characteristically helpful question from my noble friend, the department will put in place thorough programme-management arrangements as it takes forward the draft care and support Bill and plans for its implementation. That will include monitoring and assessing risks as they arise, to ensure smooth passage through to implementation.

[Lord Peston]

My Lords, I repeat what I said last time: it really is about time that the Liberal Democrats recognised that they are part of the government side. Everyone is getting quite fed up with this demand to be treated separately.

Is it not trivially obvious that all decision-making involves risks and therefore the Government’s refusal to publish this register would cause a reasonable person outside to come to the conclusion, much as the Minister might dislike this, that the Government really are trying to hide something that was damaging to them?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, I cannot answer for those who see something suspicious in what the Government are doing. All I can say is that we are absolutely clear that the circumstances in this case were exceptional. The FOI request from Mr Healey was made at a particularly sensitive time when the need for a safe space for civil servants and Ministers was especially high. The Freedom of Information Act was drafted specifically to allow for the ministerial veto. It is not just about the specific content of the risk register; it is also about preserving risk registers in general as frank internal working tools in the interests of good government.