All 1 Debates between Tom Brake and Sarah Wollaston

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Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill

Debate between Tom Brake and Sarah Wollaston
Wednesday 22nd January 2014

(10 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Tom Brake Portrait Tom Brake
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I can reassure the hon. Lady that I have not finished my comments in relation to special advisers. There is an amendment in lieu to which I am about to refer. Ultimately, whether or not there are contacts with the special adviser, it is not the special adviser who signs off the decision; it is the Minister.

Sarah Wollaston Portrait Dr Sarah Wollaston (Totnes) (Con)
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The description I would use is glued at the hip. Coming to this place as an outsider, my observation is that special advisers are absolutely key to decision making. If our aim is genuinely to improve transparency, we will miss an important opportunity if we do not include special advisers.

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