OK, so I keep an eye on the 38 degrees stuff, and drop the odd email off to my MP (dear CLegg himself) when I think they have a point.
I just got my reply to my request that he votes to release the risk register relating to the NHS propsed changes and got back this...
The risk register sets out all of the potential risks identified by the Department of Health for the entire range of areas for which it is responsible. These include financial risks, policy risks and sensitive commercial and contractual risks. It is a common tool used to manage and mitigate risks, so that they do not in practice materialise. This practice also took place under the last Labour Government. Therefore, whilst we do recognise the public interest in this information, we must also give careful consideration as to what the unintended consequences could be if a decision was taken to release risk registers in the future. One such possibility could be that the most significant risks will no longer be recorded, and no solution or mitigating action will therefore be identified. There is also the danger that the vital advice given to Ministers of the risks connected with policy decisions would be compromised, given that officials would inevitably be hesitant to record meaningful risks in the future. It may also inadvertently make staff unwilling to report bad news to their senior management and ministers, all of which could have potentially devastating consequences.
(my bolding).
So, he's saying that there IS a public interest but that it should be ignored becuase in consequence 'officials' (whoever he means by that) might abuse the risk register - I'm not sure if that would even be legal?
Anyone out there know if he has a sensible point, cos it sounds like bollocks to me.
Cheers.