09.05.11
Lansley vetoes publication of risk register
The Government has confirmed that it is to veto the publication of the NHS reforms risk register, despite rulings from the Information Commissioner and the Information Rights Tribunal and demands from opposition MPs that it should be made public.
It is reported that the ministerial veto to prevent it being published has only happened three other times in the past decade.
The Department of Health has long maintained that releasing it would undermine policy-making and good government, by reducing the quality of advice civil servants give ministers in future. Critics maintain that argument could be used to ignore all freedom of information and transparency requests on any issue.
In a statement, health secretary Andrew Lansley said: “This is not a step I have taken lightly. I am a firm believer in greater transparency and this Government and this department have done far more than our predecessors in publishing information about the performance and results of our policies. But there also needs to be safe space where officials are able to give ministers full and frank advice in developing policies and programmes.
“The Freedom of Information Act always contemplated such a ‘safe space’ and I believe effective government requires it. That is why cabinet has today decided to veto the release of the department's transition risk register. Had we not taken this decision, it is highly likely that future sensitive risk registers would turn into anodyne documents, and be worded quite differently with civil servants worrying about how they sound to the public rather than giving ministers frank policy advice.”
The former shadow health secretary John Healey, who has been campaigning on the issue, told the Guardian: “The Government has lost twice in law, yet still won’t accept that patients and NHS staff have the right to know the risks ministers are running with the biggest ever NHS reorganisation.”
He added: “It is totally over the top to place NHS changes on the same footing as preparations for the Iraq war.”
The main health unions, which oppose the NHS reforms, have condemned the veto, with the BMA saying it is “disappointed” with the decision, and the RCN calling it “wrong” and “astonishing”.
A draft version of the register was leaked by health writer Roy Lilley in March.
(Image of Andrew Lansley copyright Department of Health)
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