Local Audit (Public Access to Documents) Bill — House of Commons, 2017-03-24
Topic: Mixed Topics
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: Amendment 3, page 1, line 5, leave out from "insert" to end of subsection and insert "including any politician or journalist" This amendment extends access to politicians as well as journalists so that they can access the information needed to fulfil their scrutiny function. Amendment 4, page 1, line 5, leave out from "insert" to end of subsection and insert "including non-domestic ratepayer" This amendment extends access to non-domestic ratepayers and clarifies the existing law. Amendment 5, page 1, line 5, after "any" insert "accredited" Amendment 6, page 1, line 5, after "any" insert "professional" Amendment 7, page 1, line 5, after "any" insert "qualified" Amendments 5, 6 and 7 would ensure that bloggers and citizen journalists would not have greater access than other members of the public. Amendment 8, page 1, line 6, leave out subsection (3) This amendment would remove the definition of journalist. Amendment 1, page 1, line 8, at end insert— "(1B) In subsection (1A) publication of journalistic material means the proposed inclusion in a newspaper or magazine whether paid for or distributed without payment and includes any article proposed to be published on any website on the internet whether it can be accessed without payment or upon payment of a subscription." The purpose of this amendment is to make clear that the section covers all journalists who may wish to publish their articles in a newspaper or magazine or on the internet, irrespective of whether there are any charges for either. Amendment 9, page 1, line 8, at end insert— "( ) The relevant authority must ensure that any person interested in making an inspection within subsection (1) may do so at all reasonable times and without payment" This amendment would extend to section 26 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 the same conditions as is set out in section 25 (3) of the Act. Amendment 10, page 1, line 8, at end insert— "( ) In subsection (1) after ‘Act’ in line 1 leave out ‘other than an audit of accounts of a health service body’" This amendment (which amends section 26 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014) would enable "persons interested" to inspect the accounting records relating to the audit of accounts of a health service body. Amendment 11, page 1, line 8, at end insert— "( ) In subsection (1) after "At" in line 1 insert "and after" This amendment (which amends section 26 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014) would extend the period in which inspections can be carried out beyond 30 days. Amendment 12, page 1, line 8, at end insert— "( ) In subsection (4)(a) leave out "inspect or" This amendment (which amends section 26 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014) would remove the restriction on inspecting any part of any record or document on the grounds of commercial confidentiality but would retain the restriction on copying. Amendment 13, page 1, line 8, at end insert— "( ) Subsection 4 (a) after ‘grounds of’ insert ‘current’" This amendment (which amends section 26 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014) would ensure that documents relating to past contracts could be inspected. Amendment 14, page 1, line 8, at end insert— "( ) Subsection (5) is hereby repealed." This amendment (which amends section 26 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014) would remove the definition in the Act of when information is protected on the grounds of commercial confidentiality.