Policy reports may remain secret

By Mark Devenport BBC Northern Ireland political editor

Five reports being prepared by Stormont politicians on key policy issues may not be made public.

Committee reports may not be seen by the public

A Stormont source said the reports had been prepared to inform a future power-sharing executive, not the general public.

But a Fair Rates campaigner said the documents should be published.

In November, Stormont's Programme for Government Committee set up six sub-groups to draw up reports on policing and justice, school admissions, water charges and rates, rural planning, the economy, and the decentralisation of Civil Service jobs.

The recommendations on public sector jobs are likely to be published when the question is debated by the assembly on Tuesday next week.

However, the committee has decided that the other reports should not be published unless a strong case is made that they should be made public.

A Stormont source said the reports had been prepared to inform an incoming executive, not the general public.

However, Fair Rates Campaigner Anne Monaghan, who gave evidence to one of the sub-groups, said the report dealing with rates should be made public and debated on the floor of the assembly.