Pickles in new transparency low

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Central Government and also in Finance

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) is to publish all spending over £250, Eric Pickles has said.

The CLG has been publishing all spends over £500 since August 2010.

The Secretary of State made the announcement as part of the Government's commitment to transparency, accountability and openness.

The Government's transparency code for councils has already seen all local authorities publish their spending over £500 online and open every aspect of business up to public scrutiny including, tenders, contracts senior pay, councillor expenses and voluntary sector funding.

The Localism Act requires local authorities to be transparent about how senior salaries are set through the publication of annual pay statements.

Pickles said: "I firmly believe the more open we are about spending the more we can root out waste, avoid duplication and increase value for money for taxpayers.

"Every member of the public has a right to know - and a right to challenge - how every penny of their hard earned cash is being spent by Government.

"Our quest for greater transparency has led us to set a new marker in the sand - from today our books will now be open right down to £250."