Local Audit (Public Access to Documents) Bill

Key Points

• Extends public access to documents that are currently treated as commercially confidential.
• Extends access to documents relating to NHS bodies in England.
• Private member’s bill sponsored by Sir Christopher Chope (Conservative).
• Current stage is the second reading in the House of Commons; would need committee and further readings to become law.
• Amendment 2 in the 24 March 2017 report stage was defeated (15 for, 41 against), indicating opposition to the approach in that amendment.

Progress

The bill is at the second reading in the Commons. As a private member’s bill, it still needs to go through committee, report, and the Lords before it could become law.

Voting

In the 24 March 2017 report stage, Amendment 2 was defeated by 41 votes to 15. Labour (Co-op) MPs voted in favour of the amendment, while Conservative MPs largely opposed it; other party groups had no recorded votes in this division.