§ 38. Mr. BakerWhat steps he is taking to make available in the Public Record Office documents between 20 and 30 years old. [28106]
§ Mr. HoonOur proposals for freedom of information, set out in the White Paper, "Your Right to Know", will enable more records to be released before they are 30 years old. There will be a legal right of access to official documents of any date, except where disclosure would cause harm to specified interests or would be against the public interest. Whether disclosure would cause harm will be a matter for an independent commissioner.
§ Mr. BakerI welcome that response and the Government's work on freedom of information. May I commend to the Minister a Bill that would reduce the period from 30 years to 20 years and that was afforded the luxury of three minutes' discussion on 30 January? I hope that the Government will see the merit of that Bill and help it through on 27 March.
§ Mr. HoonI have had the considerable advantage of reading the hon. Gentleman's proposals. Of course, they will be considered carefully.