Laws slams attempt to remove parliament from freedom of information legislation

David Laws, MP for Yeovil Constituency, has today spoken out against The Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill, an attempt to remove MPs and Parliament from the scope of the Freedom of Information Act and create a new exemption under the Act for all information relating to MPs

The Bill, which has been introduced by Tory MP David Maclean, was successfully filibustered last week by the Lib Dem Shadow Secretary for the Department of Constitutional Affairs, Simon Hughes MP and Lib Dem backbencher, Norman Baker MP but is set to return to the House of Commons this Friday to complete its Report Stage proceedings.

Mr Maclean has tried to justify the Bill by claiming that it is designed to protect MPs’ constituency correspondence from potential disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act despite the fact that correspondence containing personal data is already protected both under the Act’s existing exemptions and Data Protection legislation.

Commenting on the Bill, David Laws said:

“It would be entirely wrong fro MPs to try to exempt themselves from a law that they introduced to increase accountability. Constituents’ personal data is already protected from release by Data Protection legislation and it is quite clear that the real reason for this Bill is to shield MPs from public scrutiny.

“What is even more worrying is that the Government appears to be complicit in this manoeuvre to exempt Parliament from the Freedom of Information Act, which suggests that the Prime Minister wants to weaken his own legislation. 

“Freedom of Information is vital to a modern, democratic society which is why the Liberal Democrats are working to stop this Bill being passed.”

ENDS

A copy of the Bill can be found at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmbills/062/2007062.pdf

A copy of the Committee Stage Hansard can be found at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmpublic/freedom/070207/am/70207s01.htm

The Report Stage Hansard can be found at:
http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070420/debtext/70420-0001.htm#07042029000779

Category: Constituency News