HL Deb 13 November 2001 vol 628 cc64-5WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have decided not to bring the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 into force in relation to central government departments until 2005; and, if so, what are their reasons. [HL1045]

The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)

I have today placed in the Libraries of both Houses a paper setting out the full schedule for the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

This timetable delivers tangible benefits to the public within two years of the Act receiving Royal Assent, 11 months before the timetable set out in the Act itself, and will give public authorities more time to put into effect the necessary culture change required to deliver these important new rights. This approach also aligns the implementation of the right of access with completion of the Government's project on electronic record management.