§ Mr. Ernie RossTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the total number of releases under the open government initiative. [22474]
§ Dr. David ClarkThe latest number of records released under the Open Government Initiative now stands at over 85,000 and relates to releases up to the end of September 1997. This represents an increase of about 9 per cent. over the previous total of over 77,500, which was announced by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service in the adjournment debate on Freedom of Information on 9 July 1997,Official Report, columns 902–10, and related the total figure as at the end of March 1997.