Mr. Llew.SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to publish his departmental guidance on the implementation of the code of practice on access to Government information, as promised at paragraph 3(ii) of the code issued on 4 April; and what has been the cause of the delay in publishing the departmental guidance.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydGuidance on the implementation of the code of practice on access to Government infonnation has been issued in both the diplomatic and aid wings. It includes a leaflet and application form available to members of the public on how to apply to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office under the code and guidance circulars to staff explaining the code and how to respond to inquiries received under it. Copies of these documents have been deposited in the Library. The aid wing will be issuing a leaflet for public use later this month. Additionally, the FCO's code of practice inquiry unit refers, as necessary, to the central guidance on interpretation.