HC Deb 26 October 1998 vol 318 cc57-8W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the timetable for the introduction of a Freedom of Information Bill set out by the former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster remains unaltered. [56326]

Mr. Straw

In my letter of 29 September to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan), a copy of which has been placed in the Library, I said that there was still a good deal of work to be done in translating the principles in the White Paper "Your Right to Know" into legislation. I have therefore increased resources devoted to this and set in hand a programme of work to deliver a draft Freedom of Information Bill early in the New Year.

Mr. Coaker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to prepare for implementation of the proposed Freedom of Information Act. [57007]

Mr. Straw

A culture of greater openness will be crucial to the successful implementation of a Freedom of Information Act. Implementation of the Act will not be for Government alone but will need to be addressed by a wide variety of public authorities.

I am considering the best way of promoting cultural change, and I intend to set out proposals for delivering such a change in due course.