§ '.—(1) A decision notice or enforcement notice which relates to a failure to comply with section 13 in relation to any one or more requests for information shall cease to have effect if, not later than the twentieth working day following the day on which the notice was given to the public authority, the accountable person in relation to that authority gives the Commissioner a certificate signed by him stating that he has on reasonable grounds formed the opinion that the authority did not fail to comply with section 13 in relation to that request or those requests.
§ (2) Where the accountable person gives a certificate to the Commissioner under subsection (1) in relation to a decision notice, the accountable person shall, on doing so or as soon as reasonably practicable after doing so, inform the person who is the complainant for the purposes of section 50 of the reasons for his opinion.
§ (3) The accountable person is not obliged to provide information under subsection (2) if, or to the extent that, compliance with that subsection would involve the disclosure of exempt information.
§ (4) In this section "the accountable person"—
- (a) in relation to a government department, means any Minister of the Crown,
- (b) in relation to a Northern Ireland department. means the Northern Ireland Minister in charge of that department,
- (c) in relation to the House of Commons or the National Audit Office, means the Speaker of that House,
- (d) in relation to the House of Lords, means the Clerk of the Parliaments,
- (e) in relation to the Northern Ireland Assembly or the Northern Ireland Audit Office, means the Presiding Officer of that Assembly,
- (f) in relation to the National Assembly for Wales or an Assembly subsidiary as defined by section 99(4) of the Government of Wales Act 1998, means the Assembly First Secretary,
- (g) in relation to the Greater London Authority or a functional body within the meaning of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, means the Mayor of London,
- (h) in relation to a local authority or, in Northern Ireland, a district council within the meaning of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972, means a member, committee or sub-committee of that local authority or district council designated by the Secretary of State by order,
- (i) in relation to any public authority not falling within paragraph (b), (e) or (h) whose functions are exercisable wholly or mainly in or as regards Northern Ireland and relate wholly or mainly to transferred matters, means the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Northern
1110 Ireland acting jointly, or any Northern Ireland Minister nominated in relation to that public authority by those Ministers so acting, - (j) in relation to any public authority specified in Part II of Schedule 1 which is not a local authority but whose members include members of local authorities, means—
- (i) a committee or sub-committee of the public authority designated by the Secretary of State by order, or
- (ii) a member of a local authority who is also a member of that public authority and is designated by the Secretary of State by order, and
- (k) in relation to any other public authority, means a Minister of the Crown designated by the Secretary of State by order.
§ (5) An order under subsection (4)—
- (a) may designate specified persons or persons falling within a specified description,
- (b) may designate different persons in relation to the same authority in relation to different cases, and
- (c) may make any designation subject to conditions.
§ (6) The Secretary of State may by order provide for the exercise of the functions conferred by subsection (1) on the accountable person (whether designated by subsection (4) or by an order under that subsection) in the event of any vacancy in the office held by the accountable person or in the event of the illness or absence of the accountable person.
§
(7) In this section—
local authority" means—
"working day" has the same meaning as in section 9.'.—[Mr. Mike Hall.]
§ Brought up, and read the First time.
§ Motion made, and Question put, That the clause be read a Second time:—
§ The House divided: Ayes 302, Noes 173.
1113| Division No. 151] | [12.6 am |
| AYES | |
| Ainger, Nick | Brown, Russell (Dumfries) |
| Ainsworth, Robert (Cov'try NE) | Browne, Desmond |
| Anderson, Donald (Swansea E) | Buck, Ms Karen |
| Anderson, Janet (Rossendale) | Burden, Richard |
| Armstrong, Rt Hon Ms Hilary | Burgon, Colin |
| Atherton, Ms Candy | Butler, Mrs Christine |
| Atkins, Charlotte | Byers, Rt Hon Stephen |
| Austin, John | Caborn, Rt Hon Richard |
| Banks, Tony | Campbell, Alan (Tynemouth) |
| Barnes, Harry | Campbell, Ronnie (Blyth V) |
| Barron, Kevin | Campbell-Savours, Dale |
| Bayley, Hugh | Cann, Jamie |
| Beard, Nigel | Caplin, Ivor |
| Beckett, Rt Hon Mrs Margaret | Casale, Roger |
| Begg, Miss Anne | Caton, Martin |
| Benn, Hilary (Leeds C) | Cawsey, Ian |
| Bennett, Andrew F | Chapman, Ben (Wirral S) |
| Benton, Joe | Chaytor, David |
| Berry, Roger | Clapham, Michael |
| Best, Harold | Clark, Rt Hon Dr David (S Shields) |
| Blackman, Liz | Clark, Dr Lynda (Edinburgh Pentlands) |
| Blears, Ms Hazel | |
| Blizzard, Bob | Clark, Paul (Gillingham) |
| Boateng, Rt Hon Paul | Clarke, Charles (Norwich S) |
| Bradley, Keith (Withington) | Clarke, Tony (Northampton S) |
| Bradley, Peter (The Wrekin) | Clelland, David |
| Bradshaw, Ben | Coaker, Vernon |
| Brown, Rt Hon Nick (Newcastle E) | Coffey, Ms Ann |
| Coleman, Iain | Hutton, John |
| Colman, Tony | Iddon, Dr Brian |
| Connarty, Michael | Illsley, Eric |
| Cook, Rt Hon Robin (Livingston) | Ingram, Rt Hon Adam |
| Cooper, Yvette | Jackson, Ms Glenda (Hampstead) |
| Corston, Jean | Jackson, Helen (Hillsborough) |
| Cranston, Ross | Jamieson, David |
| Cryer, John (Hornchurch) | Jenkins, Brian |
| Cummings, John | Johnson, Alan (Hull W & Hessle) |
| Cunningham, Rt Hon Dr Jack (Copeland) | Johnson, Miss Melanie (Welwyn Hatfield) |
| Cunningham, Jim (Cov'try S) | Jones, Rt Hon Barry (Alyn) |
| Curtis-Thomas, Mrs Claire | Jones, Helen (Warrington N) |
| Darling, Rt Hon Alistair | Jones, Martyn (Clwyd S) |
| Darvill, Keith | Jowell, Rt Hon Ms Tessa |
| Davey, Valerie (Bristol W) | Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald |
| Davidson, Ian | Keeble, Ms Sally |
| Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (Llanelli) | Keen, Alan (Feltham & Heston) |
| Davies, Geraint (Croydon C) | Keen, Ann (Brentford & Isleworth) |
| Dawson, Hilton | Kemp, Fraser |
| Dean, Mrs Janet | Kennedy, Jane (Wavertree) |
| Denham, John | Khabra, Piara S |
| Dismore, Andrew | Kidney, David |
| Dobbin, Jim | Kilfoyle, Peter |
| Donohoe, Brian H | King, Andy (Rugby & Kenilworth) |
| Doran, Frank | King, Ms Oona (Bethnal Green) |
| Dowd, Jim | Ladyman, Dr Stephen |
| Eagle, Angela (Wallasey) | Laxton, Bob |
| Eagle, Maria (L'pool Garston) | Lepper, David |
| Edwards, Huw | Leslie, Christopher |
| Efford, Clive | Levitt, Tom |
| Ellman, Mrs Louise | Lewis, Ivan (Bury S) |
| Ennis, Jeff | Lewis, Terry (Worsley) |
| Field, Rt Hon Frank | Liddell, Rt Hon Mrs Helen |
| Fitzpatrick, Jim | Linton, Martin |
| Fitzsimons, Lorna | Lock, David |
| Flint, Caroline | McAvoy, Thomas |
| Follett, Barbara | McCabe, Steve |
| Foster, Michael J (Worcester) | McDonagh, Siobhain |
| Foulkes, George | Macdonald, Calum |
| Galloway, George | McFall, John |
| Gapes, Mike | McGuire, Mrs Anne |
| Gardiner, Barry | McIsaac, Shona |
| George, Bruce (Walsall S) | McKenna, Mrs Rosemary |
| Gilroy, Mrs Linda | McNulty, Tony |
| Godman, Dr Norman A | MacShane, Denis |
| Goggins, Paul | Mactaggart, Fiona |
| Golding, Mrs Llin | McWalter, Tony |
| Gordon, Mrs Eileen | Mallaber, Judy |
| Griffiths, Jane (Reading E) | Marsden, Gordon (Blackpool S) |
| Griffiths, Nigel (Edinburgh S) | Marsden, Paul (Shrewsbury) |
| Griffiths, Win (Bridgend) | Marshall, David (Shettleston) |
| Grocott, Bruce | Martlew, Eric |
| Grogan, John | Maxton, John |
| Hain, Peter | Meacher, Rt Hon Michael |
| Hall, Mike (Weaver Vale) | Merron, Gillian |
| Hall, Patrick (Bedford) | Michie, Bill (Shef'ld Heeley) |
| Hamilton, Fabian (Leeds NE) | Milburn, Rt Hon Alan |
| Hanson, David | Miller, Andrew |
| Heal, Mrs Sylvia | Moffatt, Laura |
| Healey, John | Moonie, Dr Lewis |
| Henderson, Doug (Newcastle N) | Moran, Ms Margaret |
| Hepburn, Stephen | Morley, Elliot |
| Heppell, John | Morris, Rt Hon Ms Estelle (B'ham Yardley) |
| Hesford, Stephen | |
| Hill, Keith | Mountford, Kali |
| Hodge, Ms Margaret | Mullin, Chris |
| Hoey, Kate | Murphy, Denis (Wansbeck) |
| Hoon, Rt Hon Geoffrey | Murphy, Jim (Eastwood) |
| Hope, Phil | Murphy, Rt Hon Paul (Torfaen) |
| Howarth, Alan (Newport E) | Naysmith, Dr Doug |
| Howarth, George (Knowsley N) | Norris, Dan |
| Howells, Dr Kim | O'Brien, Bill (Normanton) |
| Hughes, Kevin (Doncaster N) | O'Brien, Mike (N Warks) |
| Humble, Mrs Joan | Olner, Bill |
| Hurst, Alan | O'Neill, Martin |
| Organ, Mrs Diana | Squire, Ms Rachel |
| Osborne, Ms Sandra | Starkey, Dr Phyllis |
| Palmer, Dr Nick | Steinberg, Gerry |
| Pearson, Ian | Stevenson, George |
| Pendry, Tom | Stewart, David (Inverness E) |
| Perham, Ms Linda | Stewart, Ian (Eccles) |
| Pickthall, Colin | Stinchcombe, Paul |
| Pike, Peter L | Stoate, Dr Howard |
| Plaskitt, James | Strang, Rt Hon Dr Gavin |
| Pollard, Kerry | Straw, Rt Hon Jack |
| Pond, Chris | Stringer, Graham |
| Pope, Greg | Stuart, Ms Gisela |
| Pound, Stephen | Sutcliffe, Gerry |
| Prentice, Ms Bridget (Lewisham E) | Taylor, Rt Hon Mrs Ann (Dewsbury) |
| Primarolo, Dawn | |
| Prosser, Gwyn | Taylor, Ms Dari (Stockton S) |
| Quinn, Lawrie | Taylor, David (NW Leics) |
| Radice, Rt Hon Giles | Temple-Morris, Peter |
| Rammell, Bill | Thomas, Gareth (Clwyd W) |
| Raynsford, Nick | Thomas, Gareth R (Harrow W) |
| Reed, Andrew (Loughborough) | Timms, Stephen |
| Reid, Rt Hon Dr John (Hamilton N) | Tipping, Paddy |
| Todd, Mark | |
| Robinson, Geoffrey (Cov'try NW) | Trickett, Jon |
| Roche, Mrs Barbara | Truswell, Paul |
| Rooker, Rt Hon Jeff | Turner, Dennis (Wolverh'ton SE) |
| Rooney, Terry | Turner, Dr George (NW Norfolk) |
| Ross, Ernie (Dundee W) | Turner, Neil (Wigan) |
| Roy, Frank | Twigg, Derek (Halton) |
| Ruane, Chris | Twigg, Stephen (Enfield) |
| Russell, Ms Christine (Chester) | Tynan, Bill |
| Ryan, Ms Joan | Vaz, Keith |
| Salter, Martin | Walley, Ms Joan |
| Sarwar, Mohammad | Ward, Ms Claire |
| Savidge, Malcolm | Wareing, Robert N |
| Sawford, Phil | Watts, David |
| Sedgemore, Brian | White, Brian |
| Sheerman, Barry | Whitehead, Dr Alan |
| Shipley, Ms Debra | Wicks, Malcolm |
| Singh, Marsha | Williams, Rt Hon Alan (Swansea W) |
| Skinner, Dennis | |
| Smith, Rt Hon Andrew (Oxford E) | Williams, Alan W (E Carmarthen) |
| Smith, Angela (Basildon) | Wills, Michael |
| Smith, Rt Hon Chris (Islington S) | Winterton, Ms Rosie (Doncaster C) |
| Smith, Miss Geraldine (Morecambe & Lunesdale) | Woodward, Shaun |
| Woolas, Phil | |
| Smith, Jacqui (Redditch) | Worthington, Tony |
| Smith, John (Glamorgan) | Wright, Anthony D (Gt Yarmouth) |
| Smith, Llew (Blaenau Gwent) | Wyatt, Derek |
| Snape, Peter | |
| Soley, Clive | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| Southworth, Ms Helen | Mr. Don Touhig and |
| Spellar, John | Mr. Clive Betts. |
| NOES | |
| Ainsworth, Peter (E Surrey) | Bruce, Ian (S Dorset) |
| Amess, David | Burnett, John |
| Arbuthnot, Rt Hon James | Burstow, Paul |
| Ashdown, Rt Hon Paddy | Butterfill, John |
| Atkinson, Peter (Hexham) | Campbell, Rt Hon Menzies (NE Fife) |
| Baldry, Tony | |
| Beggs, Roy | Clappison, James |
| Bercow, John | Clarke, Rt Hon Kenneth (Rushcliffe) |
| Beresford, Sir Paul | |
| Blunt, Crispin | Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey |
| Body, Sir Richard | Clwyd, Ann |
| Boswell, Tim | Collins, Tim |
| Bottomley, Peter (Worthing W) | Cook, Frank (Stockton N) |
| Bottomley, Rt Hon Mrs Virginia | Corbyn, Jeremy |
| Brady, Graham | Cotter, Brian |
| Brake, Tom | Cousins, Jim |
| Brand, Dr Peter | Cran, James |
| Brazier, Julian | Dalyell, Tam |
| Breed, Colin | Davey, Edward (Kingston) |
| Brooke, Rt Hon Peter | Davies, Quentin (Grantham) |
| Browning, Mrs Angela | Davis, Rt Hon David (Haltemprice) |
| Day, Stephen | Mahon, Mrs Alice |
| Donaldson, Jeffrey | Malins, Humfrey |
| Dorrell, Rt Hon Stephen | Maples, John |
| Duncan, Alan | Marshall, Jim (Leicester S) |
| Duncan Smith, Iain | Marshall-Andrews, Robert |
| Dunwoody, Mrs Gwyneth | Mates, Michael |
| Faber, David | Michie, Mrs Ray (Argyll & Bute) |
| Fabricant, Michael | Moore, Michael |
| Fearn, Ronnie | Morgan, Ms Julie (Cardiff N) |
| Fisher, Mark | Moss, Malcolm |
| Flight, Howard | Nicholls, Patrick |
| Forth, Rt Hon Eric | Norman, Archie |
| Foster, Rt Hon Derek | Oaten, Mark |
| Foster, Don (Bath) | O'Brien, Stephen (Eddisbury) |
| Fowler, Rt Hon Sir Norman | Öpik, Lembit |
| Fox, Dr Liam | Ottaway, Richard |
| Fraser, Christopher | Page, Richard |
| Gale, Roger | Paice, James |
| Garnier, Edward | Pickles, Eric |
| George, Andrew (St Ives) | Prentice, Gordon (Pendle) |
| Gerrard, Neil | Prior, David |
| Gibb, Nick | Randall, John |
| Gillan, Mrs Cheryl | Rendel, David |
| Gorman, Mrs Teresa | Robathan, Andrew |
| Gray, James | Robertson, Laurence |
| Green, Damian | Roe, Mrs Marion (Broxbourne) |
| Greenway, John | Ruffley, David |
| Grieve, Dominic | Russell, Bob (Colchester) |
| Hamilton, Rt Hon Sir Archie | Sanders, Adrian |
| Hammond, Philip | Sayeed, Jonathan |
| Harvey, Nick | Shephard, Rt Hon Mrs Gillian |
| Hawkins, Nick | Shepherd, Richard |
| Hayes, John | Simpson, Alan (Nottingham S) |
| Heald, Oliver | Simpson, Keith (Mid-Norfolk) |
| Heath, David (Somerton & Frome) | Soames, Nicholas |
| Hopkins, Kelvin | Spelman, Mrs Caroline |
| Howard, Rt Hon Michael | Spring, Richard |
| Hughes, Simon (Southwark N) | Stanley, Rt Hon Sir John |
| Hunter, Andrew | Steen, Anthony |
| Jenkin, Bernard | Stunell, Andrew |
| Jones, Jon Owen (Cardiff C) | Swayne, Desmond |
| Jones, Dr Lynne (Selly Oak) | Syms, Robert |
| Keetch, Paul | Tapsell, Sir Peter |
| Kennedy, Rt Hon Charles (Ross Skye & Inverness W) | Taylor, Ian (Esher & Walton) |
| Taylor, John M (Solihull) | |
| Key, Robert | Taylor, Matthew (Truro) |
| King, Rt Hon Tom (Bridgwater) | Tonge, Dr Jenny |
| Kirkwood, Archy | Tredinnick, David |
| Laing, Mrs Eleanor | Trend, Michael |
| Lait, Mrs Jacqui | Tyler, Paul |
| Lansley, Andrew | Tyrie, Andrew |
| Leigh, Edward | Viggers, Peter |
| Letwin, Oliver | Waterson, Nigel |
| Lidington, David | Webb, Steve |
| Lloyd, Rt Hon Sir Peter (Fareham) | Wells, Bowen |
| Llwyd, Elfyn | Whitney, Sir Raymond |
| Loughton, Tim | Whittingdale, John |
| Love, Andrew | Willetts, David |
| Luff, Peter | Williams, Mrs Betty (Conwy) |
| Lyell, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas | Willis, Phil |
| McDonnell, John | Winterton, Mrs Ann (Congleton) |
| MacGregor, Rt Hon John | Winterton, Nicholas (Macclesfield) |
| McIntosh, Miss Anne | Wright, Dr Tony (Cannock) |
| Mackinlay, Andrew | Yeo, Tim |
| Maclean, Rt Hon David | Young, Rt Hon Sir George |
| Maclennan, Rt Hon Robert | |
| McLoughlin, Patrick | Tellers for the Noes: |
| McWilliam, John | Sir Robert Smith and |
| Madel, Sir David | Jackie Ballard. |
§ Question accordingly agreed to.
§ Clause read a Second time, and added to the Bill.