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HAUL
IT COULD, perhaps, be argued that it is part of the process of open government. But that is certainly not how Labour MP Ronald Brown sees it — nor it is safe to assume, do most Honourable Members, whatever their party.
He picked out for special mention the Departments of Transport and the Environment, particularly apposite in a week when a couple of those redtopped Transport hand-outs had been delivered to publications without a word being breathed in the Commons (unless one counts written answers).
Mr Brown looked back over his 15 years in the House, and recalled the days when Ministers made statements at the Despatch Box. Great days, halcyon days, he called them — unlike nowadays, when "one has to read it all in the press."
Now ministers even made statements in press releases during the recess, complained Mr Brown, thinking perhaps of Mr Fowler's ideas about tachographs released during September.
What Mr Brown did make absolutely plain was that he considers the Government only a beginner in this matter compared to the Greater London Council and its boss Sir Horace Cutler. . "the GLC has developed the system to a fine art. Sir Horacc has his A-levels in governing by pres release."
It will be gathered that Mr Brown doe not like what is going on in London, it for no other reason than transport problems always seem to plague th( Hackney part of his constituency Whether it is the danger of buses at the back of their garage upsettiN people every morning, or lorries — from Folkestone or Southampton — travelling through the streets, "it it always Hackney."
It must be admitted that he was no alone. During several Commons de bates on London, in which transpor figured prominently, Labour word. about Central and London govern ment were waspishly unhoneyed.
As one Member put it: "Inner London i heading for unparalleled economil and social vandalism imposed by ai uncaring and doctrinaire Govern ment at Westminster, aided and abet ted wherever possible by thei poodles across the river at Count Hall."
You don't get words like that in t hand-out!