Chris Leslie
Main Page: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)(15Â years, 8Â 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 ÂŁ500 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.