§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for information he received under the "Open Government: Code of Practice on Access to Government Information" in the last parliamentary session; and how many of these applications were granted. [83120]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 10 May 1999]: Statistics on the handling of applications for information under the "Open Government: Code of Practice on Access to Government Information" are compiled on an annual, calendar year (rather than parliamentary session) basis for inclusion in the annual Monitoring Report. Although all requests for information are handled in terms of the "Code", the Department of Trade and Industry (excluding Government Offices) received 30 formal, identifiable requests under the "Code" in 1998; information was refused under one or more "Code" exemptions in 15 cases.