HC Deb 30 November 1998 vol 321 cc527-8
6. Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley)

What is the proposed timetable for consideration of the draft freedom of information Bill. [61094]

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Jack Straw)

And now we come to freedom of information.

The Government will publish a draft freedom of information Bill early next year for pre-legislative scrutiny by the Select Committee on Public Administration, and for public consultation. Following that, the Government will introduce the Bill to Parliament as soon as the legislative programme allows.

Judy Mallaber

Will the Secretary of State confirm that legislation on freedom of information remains an important plank of the Government's programme to modernise Britain as we move towards the millennium? Does he agree that measures on openness and accountability are a central part of that constitutional programme, which includes reform of the second Chamber, devolution of power and incorporation of human rights? Will he press for that legislation to be introduced as soon as possible after consultation on the draft Bill, and for it to be moved as high in the parliamentary timetable as possible?

Mr. Straw

The answer to all those questions is yes. We do regard the matter as important. I hope that the whole House will recognise that, by having a draft Bill, we give the House a greater opportunity properly to scrutinise the legislation. In advance of the Bill, many Ministers, including me, have taken steps to secure greater openness.

Mr. A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed)

Has not the information that is emerging about the handling of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy affair demonstrated that the public and the business community urgently need freedom of information? As a previous Minister, the right hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark), said in the House that the Bill was 90 per cent. drafted, does the Home Secretary acknowledge the disappointment at the fact that the process is taking so long? Will he, therefore, consider whether the process might be accelerated, and will he consider the fact that the Bill could be a candidate for the new carry-over procedures, so that, following consultation, it is introduced later this Session and carried over into the next?

Mr. Straw

I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) for the work that he did on the freedom of information Bill, but, as I believe that he would acknowledge, a great deal of work remained to be done before the Bill could be put in proper draft order. That work is now being done. Early next year a draft Bill will be published, which will then go to the Select Committee on Public Administration. I dare say that it will return to the House for debate. In those circumstances, and given the fact that the present Session is shorter than usual, I think the possibility of its being introduced this Session is very limited indeed.