Expensive Wines

Dear Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of
Wine,

Please can you provide me with:

(a) the names and cost per bottle of the five most expensive types
of wine currently in stock Government Hospitality Cellar at
Lancaster House ('the Cellar'); and

(b) the names and cost per bottle of the five most expensive types
of wine purchased during 2009 for the Cellar; and

(c) the total cost of the 20 most expensive bottles of wine
purchased during 2009 for Cellar.

I know that the Committee has used commercial confidentiality as a
reason not to disclose a full stock list in the past. In this case
however I do not consider that this exemption can be relied upon to
withhold the information requested for the following reasons:

(1) The UK was in recession during 2009 and this has had serious
consequences on public finances and will continue affect public
services. This means that the public interest in identifying
potential waste or extravagance in the use of public money even
stronger.

(2) The request is very specific and targets only the most
expensive wines purchased and retained, where the public interest
in favour of disclosure is greatest as disclosure will be likely to
satisfy the public that there is no excessive expenditure or else
identify waste or extravagance in the use of public funds.

(3) Disclosure will promote accountability and transparency in the
spending of public money.

(4) Disclosure of information about hospitality may also assure the
public of the personal probity public officials and where relevant
elected representatives.

(5) Disclosure will also furthering the understanding of and
participation in the public debate about the use of public funds.

(6) Disclosure will increase the ability of public to make informed
judgements about the quality of decision making by public officials
and the effectiveness of the policies and internal controls
relating to purchases.

(7) Part (c) of the request does not require the names of suppliers
or products to be disclosed.

Yours faithfully,

John Cross