Daily Mail accuses DEFRA of attempting to cover up £2m in benefits paid to Richard Benyon Options

[Sherlock]

This story doesn't seem to have received much coverage locally:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13...d-cover-up.html

Interesting that it was run by the Daily Mail. They do rather seem to have it in for Prime Minister Dave and his pals.

Thoughts, anyone?

[Adrian Hollister]

It's a classic example of why information should be made public. By hiding things (or attempting to hide them) DEFRA and it's ministers are easily accused of corruption.

It would be interesting to see if Benyon declared any interests in any meetings associated with the issue. If he failed to declare interests in these issues then he could quite rightly be accused of inappropriate behaviour and even corruption.

Why are the farm subsidies paying up for very rich estates? Time for reform of the CAP.

[Andy Capp]

It's a classic example of why information should be made public. By hiding things (or attempting to hide them) DEFRA and it's ministers are easily accused of corruption.

It would be interesting to see if Benyon declared any interests in any meetings associated with the issue. If he failed to declare interests in these issues then he could quite rightly be accused of inappropriate behaviour and even corruption.

Why are the farm subsidies paying up for very rich estates? Time for reform of the CAP.

"Mr Benyon has declared his family business in the Commons register of interests. ... Mr Benyon resigned his chairmanship of the family business, Englefield Estate Trust Corporation Limited, when he became a Minister"

What the article says is that the EU only required the privacy of individuals be upheld, but the government went further and protected the privacy of industrial farming enterprises, such as the Englefield Estate.

[Adrian Hollister]

"Mr Benyon has declared his family business in the Commons register of interests. ... Mr Benyon resigned his chairmanship of the family business, Englefield Estate Trust Corporation Limited, when he became a Minister"

What the article says is that the EU only required the privacy of individuals be upheld, but the government went further and protected the privacy of industrial farming enterprises, such as the Englefield Estate.

'Resigning Chairmanship' is different from 'not receiving benefit from'.

[Andy Capp]

'Resigning Chairmanship' is different from 'not receiving benefit from'.

It is in fact, but his interests receiving the money isn't the issue, it is the government's 'eagerness' to protect those that have received it that is concerning.