Oral Answers to Questions

Louise Mensch Excerpts

Wednesday 7th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

When the hon. Gentleman asked me that question a year ago, I did in fact meet a delegation from his constituency. I agree with every word that he said, and I make him this offer: as I am going to be in Troon, he can make the short trip from his constituency and we can share a platform together to point out the dangers of separatism and the nationalist agenda. Are you up for it?

[Louise Mensch (Corby) (Con)]

Q11. Labour-controlled Corby borough council—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I want the hon. Lady’s question to be heard in full with a bit of quiet and perhaps a bit of respect.

[Louise Mensch]

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Labour-controlled Corby borough council is trying to suppress a report into the scandal at the Corby Cube. Twenty-six million pounds of Corby people’s money has been wasted, and now councillors are being threatened with disciplinary action if they blow the whistle. Does the Prime Minister agree that the council should come clean with Corby people?

[The Prime Minister]

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend, who raises an important point. There are now proposals for total transparency in local government so that expenditure over £500 should be separately documented and so that all the salaries, names, budgets and responsibilities of staff paid over £58,000 should be published, including councillors’ allowances and expenses and all the organisational charts. We want the wind of transparency to go right through local government, Corby included.