Freedom Of Information (Amendment) Bill

EDM number 1545 in 2006-07, proposed by Simon Hughes on 22/05/2007.

That this House notes the Third Reading of the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill on 18th May; believes that it is inconsistent and unprincipled to seek to exempt the affairs of the House of Commons and House of Lords from the obligations of the Freedom of Information legislation, which applies to all other public authorities and only took effect in 2005; believes that the passage into law of the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill would fundamentally undermine respect for both Houses of Parliament, all the Houses' hon. Members and officers, and most importantly Parliament's ability to have any authority or set any example on issues of accountability, openness or transparency in Government and public life; and believes that the argument that more laws are needed to protect confidentiality of correspondence between hon. Members and those whom they represent is not made out on the evidence, should only be introduced if careful and considered advice confirms an agreed need for changes to the law, and should not be used as an excuse, justification or distraction for a major attack on the rights of British citizens to hold to account all hon. Members of Parliament passing laws in their name.

This motion has been signed by a total of 72 MPs.