§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is the Government's policy to apply the test of substantial harm set out in the White Paper on freedom of information in its forthcoming Bill on freedom of information. [78258]
§ Mr. StrawThe Government hope to publish a draft Bill on freedom of information in May. It is our intention to make sure the legislation is clear and easy to use. We are still considering the precise drafting of the Bill to ensure that the principles set out in the White Paper "Your Right to Know" form the basis of the legislation.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Advisory Group on openness in the public sector will be able to consider the progress since 1 May 1997 of proposals for freedom of information legislation. [78343]
§ Mr. StrawThe purpose of the Group is to advise me on the steps needed to be taken ahead of freedom of information legislation to increase openness in the public sector. I expect the group to submit a report to me before the end of the year making recommendations on how I might facilitate an increase in openness in the public sector as a whole.
The Home Office took over responsibility for freedom of information legislation from the Cabinet Office in the summer of 1998, to enable the policy to be developed alongside other constitutional measures, such as human rights and data protection. Since then, we have devoted a great deal of effort towards translating the White Paper's proposals into a draft Bill. I now hope to publish the draft in May.