§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he plans to take to(a) ensure that all Government Departments are informed of, and implement the change in, the code of practice on access to Government information contained in the revised code issued on 14 January and (b) monitor the effectiveness of implementation from 1 February. [11777]
§ Mr. FreemanCopies of the revised "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information" and its accompanying "Guidance on Interpretation" have been circulated to openness liaison officers in Departments in advance of the changes coming into effect on 1 February. The changes and their effects have been explained to these liaison officers in correspondence and at a meeting. These departmental representatives are charged with ensuring that the revised code and guidance are fully disseminated within their Departments. These working level contacts have been reinforced through discussions of the revised code at meetings of departmental establishment officers and at a recent meeting of permanent secretaries, chaired by the head of the home civil service.
My Department will continue to report annually to Parliament on the experiences of Departments, agencies and public bodies in implementing the code. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, who investigates complaints about departmental 756W implementation of the code, also reports annually to Parliament, and has the power to report from time to time on specific issues arising from his work.