Naive or what?
Our esteemed leaders willingly and happily informing us exactly where they squander the exorbitant sums of which they relieve us? Next you'll tell me you still believe in the tooth fairy...(or NHS dentists, as they were once called).
The government is obstructing a bill aimed at establishing a new website for information on public sector spending. The bill, which originated in the House of Lords, is now being led by Conservative MP David Gauke. It would require the Treasury to create a government expenditure website, as well as giving the government the …
If the various government depertments don't already have the information, I think the UK taxpayer has a right to ask why not. Are they telling us that they don't know where the money is going?
Can I use the "it would cost too much to gather the data" excuse next time the Inland Revenue come calling?
What we have here is the UK Gov saying they have no idea where the money is being spent. Or they are lying and don't want to tell us (as an eariler poster has already identified the system used (COINS))
If the HM Treasury do not know or the NAO has no idea then I think we are in big trouble.
Responding for the government, Cabinet Office minister Gillian Merron said the bill was unrealistic on the grounds of cost. "
...
"she said that "work is already under way in the Treasury to expand further the quantity of expenditure information on the public website, as well as to restructure the information to make it easier to navigate and search"
Did anyone else read that as "it's too expensive! and in case you don't believe that, we're doing it anyway. Really. We are. Honest.... *moves away shiftily*"?
Anyone?