Mary Henry (Independent)

We should abandon this discussion in order to allow Members to have at least the advantage of having read the report. I have complained repeatedly in this House that we seem to think that when we get reports, we have done something but that is not the case. They must be read and we have to use the information contained in them. I have never seen more reports from Departments than in the past five years, particularly the Department of Health and Children. However, it is quite difficult to get information from the Department of Finance. If we are going to the trouble and expense of producing and paying for reports – the taxpayer is doing so – it is asinine to proceed without us having a chance to look at them and ascertain what may be of value to us.