Freedom of Information Committee (Hansard, 23 February 1981)

HC Deb 23 February 1981 vol 999 c270W 270W

§ 33. Mr. Arthur Lewis
asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why he will not move to appoint a Select Committee called the Freedom of Information Committee with terms of reference to include examination of documents and papers to ascertain whether or not these should be made freely available to hon. Members.

§ Mr. Pym
Because I do not consider that this function would be appropriate to a Select Committee. The Government's policy is to make available as much official information as possible. But it must be for Ministers, accountable to Parliament as a whole, to decide whether particular official documents or papers should be made public, whether to a Select Committee or to the House generally.