§ Q49. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West on 13 July, Official Report, c. 339, in the light of the incidents in connection with the Falkland Islands, she will give the reasons why she will not now agree to a freedom of information Act.
§ The Prime MinisterWe have made clear on a number of occasions why we regard legislation to give a statutory right of access to official information as inappropriate and unnecessary. Our policy is to make available as much information as is possible, while preserving the confidentiality essential to the effective working of government. Nothing connected with recent events in the Falkland Islands requires any alteration in that policy.