Ruth Turner has recently attracted a lot of attention with questions being asked by two Tory MPs about her role. None of the questions however have as yet been answered. Growling Chris Grayling, a frontbencher, asked what meetings Cabinet Office ministers and officials had held with Capita since the start of January 2004. He basically meant Ms Turner. Stewart Jackson was even more explicit with his question tabled two weeks ago;
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list meetings his Adviser on Government Relations has had with (a) Capita, (b) organisations acting on behalf of Capita and (c) Mr Rod Aldridge in the last 18 months; what the purpose of the meeting was in each case; and if he will make a statement.
The very next day after that question was put, Rod Aldridge, the CEO of Capita, resigned saying of his million pound bung to Labour “There have been suggestions that this loan has resulted in the group being awarded government contracts. This is entirely spurious.” So far the government has dodged giving answers to the questions claiming “To provide the detailed information requested would incur disproportionate cost.” How much does it really cost to ask Ms Turner simple questions?
Have you met Mr Aldridge?- If so, when did you meet Mr Aldridge?
< font>Total cost of a two minute phone call to Ms Turner? 5p.
To see Guido’s previous Capita and Ruth Turner stories click here.
to be continued…
