MPs accuse Blair of blocking proper scrutiny
Tony Blair has been accused of blocking attempts by a parliamentary watchdog to question one of his special advisers.
The cross-party Commons public administration committee has released a special report detailing its “dissatisfaction” with the way it has been prevented from interviewing Lord Birt.
The former BBC director general, brought in as a “blue skies thinker” in the prime minister’s strategy unit, has refused to give evidence to the committee as part of its inquiry into government planning and strategic thinking.
And in a plainly-worded report, the committee of MPs makes clear that this is due to “strong resistance” from Downing Street.
“We are disappointed that the prime minister appears to feel that there is no presumption that his own key advisers will appear before select committees when they are requested to do so, notwithstanding the general undertakings that have recently been given to select committees on this matter,” it says.
Select committees have the power to summon officials to appear before them, but members of the House of Lords – such as Lord Birt – can only be summoned by a Lords’ committee.
Following the Hutton inquiry, however, then leader of the House Peter Hain confirmed last October that “the committee’s requests on attendance of civil servant witnesses, including special advisers, will be agreed to”.
But the MPs’ report says that “our experience suggests that this is not so”, adding that its work was “hampered by an unwillingness to permit key advisers from No 10 Downing Street to give evidence”.
Lord Birt was invited to give oral evidence to the committee on October 27th, as it believed his key role in the strategy unit made him ideally placed to explain cross-departmental strategic thinking.
But despite having made comments on his role during a newspaper interview and at the Edinburgh Television Festival, Lord Birt declined.
“We do not understand why he could not give evidence to us on the much less controversial issue of the mechanics of strategic thinking within government,” the committee says.
It adds: “Whether or not he is paid for the work he undoubtedly undertakes for the prime minister seems to us to be irrelevant.
“On that logic, the government could be completely unaccountable, as long as those who worked for it were rich enough.”
To read the report visit www.parliament.uk.
