HL Deb 21 June 1999 vol 602 cc62-3WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the "organisations directly accountable to Parliament" referred to in paragraph 28 of the consultation document in Part I of Freedom of Information: Consultation on Draft Legislation, Cm 4355, May 1999. [HL2912]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

As stated in paragraph 28 of the consultation document, we are discussing with parliamentary authorities whether it is possible to bring Parliament and organisations directly accountable to Parliament within the scope of the Freedom of Information Bill. The organisations we have in mind are those where the head of the organisation is an officer of Parliament: that is, the National Audit Office and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the "specialised areas still in progress" referred to in paragraph 52 of the consultation document in Part I of Freedom of Information: Consultation on Draft Legislation, Cm 4355, May 1999. [HL2913]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Work is still in progress on: the application of the Bill to Parliament; a revision of the environmental information regime; and further provisions relating to the functions of the Lord Chancellor and the Public Record Office.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Freedom of Information Bill will direct appeals on public records to the independent Information Commissioner rather than to the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Council, as envisaged in paragraph 6.11 of the White Paper Your Right to Know, Cm 3818, December 1997. [HL2914]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The White PaperYour Right to Know states (paragraph 6.11) that "The present route of appeal…—to the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Council—is unsatisfactory…We propose to direct appeals on public records to the independent Information Commissioner". The draft Bill implements this policy (Clause 43).