 House of Commons |
Session 1998-99 Publications on the internet Public Administration Committee Publications |
| Public Administration - Third Report Here you can browse the report that was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 28 July 1999. |
|
The long road to Freedom of Information Considering legislation in draft Acknowledgements PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION What is Freedom of Information for? Striking the right balance Learning from elsewhere Key principles From principles to legislation OPEN GOVERNMENT OR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION? The public interest: who judges? Publication schemes Reasons for administrative decisions Codes of Practice From Open Government to Freedom of Information Does the Bill strike the right balance? A purpose clause Exclusions and Exemptions How many exemptions? Class-based exemptions Contents-based exemptions: the harm test Information accessible to the public by other means and information intended for future publication (clauses 16 and 17) Bodies dealing with security matters and national security (clauses 18 and 19) Investigations (clause 25) and law enforcement (clause 26) Decision-making and policy formulation (clause 28) Personal information (clause 31) Information provided in confidence (clause 32) Commercial interests (clause 34) Third parties: "Reverse Freedom of Information" Prohibitions on disclosure (clause 35) Power to confer additional exemptions by order (clause 36) "Jigsaw" exemption (clause 37) Applications under the Bill Assisting requesters Fees and charges
Time limits Information Commissioner and the Information Tribunal The Commissioner's powers Self-incrimination (clause 44(7)) The Information Tribunal The Commissioner and other complaints authorities The Commissioner and Parliament (clause 42) Reviews
CONCLUSION: OPEN GOVERNMENT
OR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
ANNEXES Annex 1: Note of an Informal Meeting with Mr Martin Cullen TD Annex 2: Table comparing provisions of the Code, White Paper and Draft Bill Annex 3: Table comparing the exemptions in the Draft Bill with those in foreign legislation Annex 4: Comparison of administrative provisions in Freedom of Information legislation Annex 5: Existing guidance on public records
Annex 6: Notes by the
Freedom of Information Unit, Home Office, on the Draft Bill
PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE
RELATING TO THE REPORT
|
 
| |
| © Parliamentary copyright 1999 | Prepared 29 July 1999 |