BBC News | UK POLITICS | Labour 'tightening up secrecy'

BBC News Online: UK Politics

Monday, 6 December, 1999, 13:34 GMT

Labour 'tightening up secrecy' - Tories

The Conservatives have started a strong attack on proposals for open government, calling Labour's Freedom of Information Bill "fatally flawed".

The party predicted that the Home Secretary Jack Straw will face serious opposition to the bill from his own backbenches and the House of Lords.

The home secretary has already responded to widespread criticism and has toughened up what many commentators said were rather weak proposals.

But many further areas of contention still exist within the forthcoming legislation.

Increasing secrecy

Speaking ahead of the bill's second reading in the Commons, shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe said that in key areas Labour's proposals could reduce the amount of government information in the public domain.

She said the information commissioner that Labour hopes to put in place lacked bite, as he or she would be unable to compel local authorities to disclose information in the national interest.

Instead Miss Widdecombe suggested the appointment of an information ombudsman who would be in turn responsible to a parliamentary committee which would have the power to press for the release of information.

Speaking at a London press conference she said: "Although heralded as an increase in freedom of information the bill would actually decrease the amount of information available."

Status quo

The shadow home secretary added that her party was content largely to see the status quo remain on open government but was concerned that Labour's plans would weaken measures put in place by the last Conservative prime minister, John Major.

She said it was "common sense" that information on national security, information given in confidence from foreign governments, and policy advice given to ministers - although not the information used to make decisions - should all remain secret.

While Tory MP John Greenway predicted that unless the government made concessions such as releasing the information from public inquiries and accident investigations he expected tough opposition in Commons and the Lords.

Mr Greenway said he was "confident that the government will have to back down in a number of these areas.

"I think the Lords are going to take great notice of what is said on the government's own backbenches."

Bringing forward freedom of information legislation is a Labour manifesto commitment, and has been backed by the party for more than 20 years.

Internet Links: Charter88 The Home Office Freedom of Information Unit The Campaign for Freedom of Information The Freedom of Information Bill
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