FOI bill to be debated again this Friday

FOI bill to be debated again this Friday

Former Conservative chief whip David Maclean's Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill ran out of time due to the filibuster tactics last week and was considered to then have almost no chance of becoming law. But due to an unusual occurrence the six bills above it in the Parliamentary queue are not ready so it will be debated again on Friday.

Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, who led opposition in the Commons, has said the bill is an "insidious" attempt at censorship and that the government is giving it tacit backing. He said he was ready to talk out the bill again on Friday.

Lord chancellor Lord Falconer refused to criticise McLean's proposed legislation and told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that as it is a private member's bill the government would remain "neutral" before the Commons has a chance to "express a view".

Freedom of information bill to return (epolitix.com, 24 April 2007)