Freedom of Information

HC Deb 04 March 1998 vol 307 cc1042-3

4. Mr. Grogan

If he will make a statement on the representations he received during the consultation period on the freedom of information White Paper. [30867]

Dr. David Clark

It is clear that the White Paper on freedom of information has caught the imagination of many people, not only in this country but overseas. The consultation period ended only last week, on 28 February. Most of the overwhelming number of responses have been positive. We are now studying them and are greatly encouraged by the positive suggestions that they make.

Mr. Grogan

In the spirit of freedom of information and open government, will my right hon. Friend say what measures he is taking to encourage Government Departments to be more open in their practices in the period leading up to legislation?

Dr. Clark

I believe it is very important that the Government themselves are pre-emptive in their approach to the release of information. In that respect, I intend to publish on the internet and to place in the Libraries of both Houses the consultation papers that I have received, except where people have requested confidentiality.

Mr. Soames

What representations has the right hon. Gentleman received from the civil service about advice tendered by civil servants to Ministers? Does he agree that it is of the utmost importance that if officials are to give the best possible advice to Ministers, that advice must remain confidential?

Dr. Clark

We have made it quite clear that the Government cannot operate in a goldfish bowl. We have provided some protection for the advice on policy given to Ministers by civil servants, but we believe that much of the factual and analytical background information can be published. I have already done that in respect of the preparations for the White Paper.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Is not a good indicator of our seriousness about freedom of information to be found in the answer that my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for South Staffordshire (Sir P. Cormack)? When my right hon. Friend gave him details of a leak inquiry in a way that was unprecedented in the House, he revealed information that Ministers in previous Governments had ducked giving in Parliament.

Dr. Clark

I am glad that the House has appreciated the openness and frankness with which I tried to approach this matter, as I believe it was the right and proper thing to do. Indeed, we need to build bridges between Whitehall and Westminster, and I hope to be in a position in the next two or three weeks to announce various initiatives that may help to build those bridges.

Mr. Ruffley

Is the Chancellor aware of our great concern at the fact that he has failed to discover the source of the leak of the White Paper earlier this year? In the interests of openness, will he disclose to the House who the leak inquiry officer interviewed? If he has not interviewed the Minister without Portfolio, why not, as most of the Lobby seem to think that he was the source of the leak in the first place?

Dr. Clark

It really is a bit strong for the Conservatives to say that, given that, when they were in government, they gave us no information whatever about leak inquiries. I have been open with the House. There was a full preliminary leak inquiry, and a number of people whom the independent interviewing officer judged it necessary to interview were indeed interviewed.