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Press release: 10 June 2009
Concern over new freedom
of information exemptions
The Campaign for Freedom of Information welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement
today that the Freedom of Information Act would be extended to additional bodies
and that the 30 year period before old official papers are made public would
be reduced to 20 years. This was a substantial step, the Campaign said, even
if it did not go as far as the 15 year period recommended by the Dacre Review
earlier this year.
However it expressed serious concern at Mr Brown's announcement that new exemptions
to the Freedom of Information Act would be introduced for Cabinet Papers and
for information relating to the Royal Family. The Campaign said it appeared
that the government intended to exclude cabinet papers from the scope of the
Freedom of Information Act altogether. This follows its decision in February
to veto the Information Tribunal’s ruling that the cabinet minutes on
the war in Iraq should be disclosed.
The Campaign’s director Maurice Frankel said: “Everyone accepts
that cabinet minutes should not normally disclosed, other than in truly exceptional
circumstances. But if someone asks for a paper submitted to a cabinet committee
5 or 10 years ago that request should be considered on its merits. To exclude
the whole class of cabinet papers from the Act is an unnecessary, retrograde
step, which will protect much material that does not need to be confidential
and allow the top of level of government to operate in absolute secrecy."
The Campaign also pointed out that the Act already contains an exemption for
information relating to communications with the Royal Family which is subject
to the Act’s public interest test. It said additional protection was
not needed. “If, for example, there is correspondence between, say, Prince
Charles and ministers about proposed legislation that should remain, as at
present, potentially disclosable on public interest grounds” Mr Frankel
said.
Further information
Maurice Frankel 0207 831 7477 or
Katherine Gundersen 0207 831 7477
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