Controversial FOI bill receives unopposed second reading

Controversial FOI bill receives unopposed second reading

The private members bill sponsored by former Tory chief whip David Maclean, which would remove Parliament and MPs' correspondence from the Freedom of Information Act, has now received an unopposed Second Reading.

The committee's debate about the bill can be read here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmpublic/
freedom/070207/am/70207s01.htm. See the website of the Campaign for Freedom of Information (http://www.cfoi.org.uk/) for their latest comments on this and other related FOI matters.

The bill will now be returned to the chamber for its report stage, where it could meet opposition. If the bill gets the approval of the Commons it could still encounter difficulties getting through the House of Lords.

MPs at odds over freedom of information (The Guardian, 8 February 2007)

MPs back bill to exempt themselves from Freedom of Information Act (Press Gazette, 7 February 2007)