§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the preparedness of Government Departments to fulfil the demands made on them for access to information after the Freedom of Information legislation comes fully into effect in respect of(a) speed and (b) comprehensiveness of reply. [189985]
§ Mr. LeslieIn accordance with Section 85(5)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act, the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs is required annually to lay before Parliament a report on his proposals for bringing fully into force those provisions of the Act which are not yet fully in force.
The fourth Annual Report on proposals for bringing fully into force those provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which are not yet fully in force will be laid before both Houses before 30 November 2004. Government Departments' progress on implementation and preparedness for full implementation of the Freedom of Information Act is surveyed annually for inclusion in this Report.
Additionally, my Department is liaising closely with other Government Departments in preparation for full implementation for the Freedom of Information Act 2000.