Writing at Liberal Democrat Voice, Caroline Pidgeon defends the Freedom of Information Act and argues for sticking to its principles and extending it to more publicly funded bodies.
One of the most significant constitutional developments of the last Labour Government was the passing of the 2000 Freedom of Information Act, which finally came into force in January 2005. This was legislation which Liberal Democrats had called for over many years.
Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly transport spokesperson, commenting on Transport for London’s plans to make it easier for customers to get a refund for a delayed tube, DLR or London Overground journey said:
“For far too long very few passengers have actually received the compensation they are entitled to. Millions of passengers have simply missed out because the process has been far too complicated and long winded.
Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and deputy chair of the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee, commenting on the decision by the Mayor of London to proceed with purchasing water cannon, said:
"There is no evidence at all to defend the provision of water cannon in London. After three evidence hearings at City Hall the case against the use of water cannon was compelling.
As Transport for London begins the process of making a new sponsorship deal for the Cycle Hire scheme, Caroline Pidgeon AM said:
"Many lessons need to be learnt from the exclusive sponsorship deal that the mayor and TfL struck with Barclays Bank.
"Above all else the contract was unnecessarily secretive and far too favourable to the bank.
"The bank should have paid far more for the benefits they had been granted under the sponsorship deal."
Caroline Pidgeon AM joined Highbury East Team members Terry Stacy and Julie Horton to congratulate them on the success of their petition to save local shops, which attracted over 2,500 signatures. As a result of this petition the developers of the former Highbury Vale Police Station have submitted plans to the council for four small commercial units on the ground floor of the building instead of one large one for a supermarket chain.
Thanks to the Lib Dems this real threat of driving the local shops out of business has been stopped.