Entries from October 2010 ↓

Where on earth are the statements? I’m afraid it’s an insult to Parliament not to publish them in good time. In fact, it goes against the guidelines. Still, this is not uncommon for this government. A journalist texted me earlier to say “It’s mental busy today. Sorry I haven’t called”. You see what’s happening there? Lots of Government news, but so far, no statement on who Andy Coulson has received hospitality from in the last three months. We patiently wait.

Oh dear. Written Ministerial Statements are supposed to be published by 12.30 on the day of notice. The Clock is ticking. See the anticipated statements in bold.

1. Secretary of state for business, innovation and skills: Insolvency service consultation on debtor petition and early discharge
2. Secretary of state for business, innovation and skills: The haldane principle
3. Secretary of state for defence: staff reductions at the defence support group
4. Secretary of state for education: school staff negotiating body
5. Secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs: Outcome of the environment council on 14 October 2010
6. Secretary of state for justice: Inquests into the deaths of service personal on operations and exercise overseas
7. Secretary of state for justice: Mental Capacity Act 2005 (post legislative scrutiny)
8. Prime Minister: Ministers: official external meetings, overseas travel, hospitality and gifts
9. Prime Minister: Special Advisors
10. Secretary of state for Transport: Cost of ministerial Cars for 2009-10
11. Secretary of state for transport: Investment in highway and local transport schemes – point of order
12. Secretary of state for work and pensions: Agenda of employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs council on 21 October 2010 Luxembourg

The government have just released a written ministerial statement on the cost of government cars for the last financial year of the Labour Government.

It’s curious. This is what I think will happen:

1. They will have teed up a symapthetic blogger/blogging journalist to get the ball moving on the story.
2. They’ll express outrage at Labour profligacy.
3. There are other statements due to be published today.
4. They will not be published until Sir George Young completes oral questions in the House at business questions.
5. The statements still as yet unpublished refer to the hospitatlity arrangements of special advisers. My hunch is it will show big cheeses lunching a lot with represetantives of a particular media group. Either way, it will be embarrassing.
6. The statement will be published as late as possible. Classic case of spin.
7. Alas, though News International journalists might co-operate with this, others will not. The BBC might even report the story. We live in hope.
8. When the statements are published I’ll stick them up on the blog, with the time they arrived in the Commons.
9. Have a nice day and watch the spin unfold.