MPs oppose FOI amendment

MPs oppose FOI amendment

MPs from the four main parties have joined forces to try and throw out the highly controversial bill which would exempt parliament from the Freedom of Information Act and prevent any more disclosures of MPs' expenses.

The MPs have tabled 20 amendments to the private members bill introduced by David Maclean, the former Tory chief whip and a member of the House of Commons commission, the governing body of parliament, which is due to be debated tomorrow.

Mr Maclean has insisted that the main aim of his bill is to prevent the unauthorised disclosure of MPs' correspondence which could reveal details of constituents' cases under the act. The Freedom of Information Act does allow this correspondence to be exempt unless there is a strong case in the public interest.

MPs oppose freedom of information curbs (The Guardian, 19 April 2007)