§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many applications for information he received under the Open Government: Code of Practice on Access to Government Information in the last parliamentary session; and how many of these applications were granted. [83111]
§ Dr. Jack Cunningham[holding answer 10 May 1999]: For monitoring purposes, the information is collected on a calender year basis. Information for 1997 was published last year in the Open Government: Code of Practice on Access to Government Information 1997 Report. Between 1 January and 28 July 1998, when the then Office of Public Service (OPS) merged with the Cabinet Office, the OPS received 3 applications for information under the Code, of which 2 were granted. Arrangements are in hand to restore the Parliamentary Commissioner for Adminstration's formal remit to the position before the merger of OPS with the Cabinet Office. The remainder of the Cabinet Office, and the Prime Minister's Office do not come under the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration's jurisdiction are not covered by the Code of Practice.