Public Administration - Third Report

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Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 19 May 1998.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Terms of Reference

LIST OF WITNESSES

REPORT

INTRODUCTION

THE CODE OF PRACTICE AND THE WHITE PAPER COMPARED

ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND THE RIGHT OF PRIVACY

Protection for the individual's right of privacy

Access to personal information

Third party appeals

EXCLUSIONS

"Class" exclusions

Exclusions: Parliament and the Security Services

INCLUSIONS

Privatised utilities

Public service broadcasters

Application to Scotland

"GATEWAY" PROVISIONS

Making a request

Fees and charges

COMMERCIAL CONFIDENTIALITY AND INFORMATION SUPPLIED IN CONFIDENCE

Information gathered for regulatory or monitoring purposes

Information about contracts

Commercial activities of public authorities

Conclusion

DECISION MAKING AND POLICY ADVICE

THE PUBLIC INTEREST TEST

Defining the public interest

The public interest and the Official Secrets Act

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL REVIEW

A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT AND OTHER LAWS

PUBLIC RECORDS

IMPLEMENTATION

SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

ANNEXES

1.  A summary of the proposals in the White Paper

2.  Note of a meeting at the Cabinet Office

PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE RELATING TO THE REPORT

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE

Freedom of Information: Mr Michael Buckley and Mr John Tate

Freedom of Information: The Rt Hon Dr David Clark MP and Mr Charles Ramsden

Freedom of Information: Mr Maurice Frankel

Freedom of Information: Mrs E France and Mr F Aldhouse, Mr M Buckley

Freedom of Information: The Rt Hon The Lord Irvine of Lairg, QC

Freedom of Information: Ms D Whitworth, Ms M Winfield, Mr B Middleton and Ms O Klevan.

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Prepared 21 May 1998