MINISTER PROMISES FOI REVIEW

The Government today (Thursday) said it would review freedom of information arrangements for private contractors providing a public service, following a special debate called by Liberal Democrat Constitutional Affairs spokesman, Lord Tyler.

Speaking in the House of Lords the Liberal Democrat Peer said a raft of the "institutions on which elections are fought and lost" were outside the remit of the Act.

Citing academy schools, NHS contractors, private prisons and Network Rail Lord Tyler highlighted a substantial number of public services, which remains under 'cloaks of secrecy'.

Commenting after the exchange, he said:

"The Minister took a constructive approach this afternoon and promised to report on the Government's review of the FOI arrangements for private contractors as soon as possible.

"The proof will be in the pudding.  The Government has already had four months to report on just 130 responses to their consultation.  Surely officials can deal with more than 35 letters a month!

"When they do publish, we will have to see whether control freaks in Whitehall succeed in diluting the Minister's good intentions.

"More concerning still is that the Conservative spokesman refused to respond to my specific challenge, and bind his party to maintaining Freedom of Information.  The public will rightly be concerned that a party which aspires to government cannot be clear about its commitment to transparency." 

ends

The full transcript will be available in Lords Hansard tomorrow, online at:  http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/lords_hansard_by_date.htm