UK Parliament / Open data

[2nd Allocated Day]

Proceeding contribution from Helen Jones (Labour) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 7 September 2011. It occurred during Debate on bills on Health and Social Care (Re-committed) Bill.

Does my hon. Friend agree that experience shows that when bodies are left to determine when it is in the public interest not to know what is going on, they usually do so on the basis of what would be embarrassing to them? Does he not fear that when difficult decisions are to be taken, commissioning groups will shut down public debate by making their meetings not open to the public?