Chris Leslie
Main Page: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)(13 years, 10 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Mr Pickles
I am glad to know that I am going down well in Burton. Information about councillors’ expenses has for some time been available from councils, but I hope the right hon. Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) will take the opportunity some time to say that Lord Beecham’s request for extra remuneration for councillors at a time of crisis is singularly inappropriate.
Chris Leslie (Nottingham East) (Lab/Co-op)
In that case, should not all Departments, not just councils and the Department for Communities and Local Government, also have to publish every £500 item of spend?
Mr Pickles
As the hon. Gentleman knows, a number of other Departments have taken that initiative. I look forward to seeing the whole Government follow where councils lead—[Interruption.] I am relaxed about that. It is up to individual Departments, but there are already a number that publish expenditure above £500.