Michael Moore was in London but still missed VAT vote – so why would revealing truth 'endanger' health?

Published on Tuesday 15 February 2011 14:51

THE mystery over why Scottish Secretary Michael Moore missed a crucial Commons vote on increasing VAT last year has deepened after the government claimed revealing where he was might "endanger the physical or mental health of an individual".

Mr Moore missed the vote on increasing VAT to 20 per cent on 13 July last year when the Lib Dems were coming under heavy pressure to keep their election promise to not raise the levy.

It was suspected that he had wanted to keep his "hands clean" of the embarrassing vote, although he had defended the rise in Scottish Questions a few days before.

Labour has made a series of inquiries to determine his whereabouts at the time of the vote.

Initially it was claimed in a written parliamentary answer from Conservative Scotland Office minister David Mundell that Mr Moore was in Scotland on ministerial business. But this proved not to be true and the Scotland Office admitted he was back in London in time for the vote in the evening, having finished his last appointment in Fife at 12:45pm.

The Scotland Office has refused to answer subsequent questions on why he missed the vote. But in a response to a freedom of information request published yesterday, Scotland Office civil servant Alison Gilfillan said: "It is considered that to release detailed information regarding specific modes of transport to and from specific locations would, or would be likely to, endanger the physical or mental health or safety of an individual and is therefore exempt under section 38 (1) of the Act.

"I believe that disclosure may give rise to the potential to endanger the safety of individuals or impact on the safety and security of ministers."

The unusual inclusion of health reasons, usually used to protect those with mental health problems, was met with derision.

Tom Greatrex, shadow Scotland Office minister, said: "This is ludicrous and shows how terrified of the truth Mr Moore is.

"Mental heath is a serious issue for many people and should not be used as an excuse to save face.

"If he opposed the Tory plan to put up VAT, he should have resigned from the government and voted against, but this shows he was too cowardly."

Sources at the Scotland Office have suggested that Mr Moore had simply decided that he could go home early and would not need to turn up for the crucial vote, which was avoided by many Lib Dems.

But yesterday a Scotland Office spokesman said: "This is a spurious claim (by Labour] which distorts the reply from the Scotland Office.

"On the issue of the VAT vote, the minister voted with the government at the third reading of the bill which contained the proposals."

He added: "In common with previous administrations, it is not practice to release specific aspects of ministerial diaries. There is a recognition that the safety of those in public life is a legitimate basis for this."

Timeline:

13 July 2010: A crucial vote on increasing VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent is missed by many Lib Dem MPs, including Scottish Secretary Michael Moore.

27 July 2010: A written answer from Tory Scotland Office minister David Mundell to Labour Scotland spokesman Tom Greatrex says Mr Moore had ministerial business in Scotland on 13 July. Later it emerges his business finished before lunchtime and he was back in London in time for the vote.

7 September 2010: A written answer by Mr Moore avoids giving details on where he was and who he was meeting.

15 February 2011: Labour publishes a response it has received to an FOI request for details of why Mr Moore was not present for the vote.