An unsuccessful attempt was made to 'talk out' the bill, but MPs voted by 168 to 2 for the debate to end, allowing the bill to go on to its next stage. Sixteen Conservatives joined Opposition MPs in backing the bill in this vote. The actual level of Tory support is much greater as many supporters were unable to attend the debate.

MPs referred to the large number of letters sent to them in support of the Bill. Even the Minister, Mr William Waldegrave, said he had "received hundreds of post cards from those campaigning for the Bill".

The Bill then went to a Committee of MPs who spent six sessions - starting on March 24 and ending on April 27 - discussing it clause by clause. Some minor amendments were made.

But the government arranged for the Bill to be blocked at its next parliamentary stage. Debates on earlier bills were deliberately spun out, allowing only an hour for the Right to Know Bill. A vast number of amendments - too many to possibly get through in the remaining time - were tabled. There is now no more parliamentary time available for the Bill.

But it has demonstrated that there is enormous support in the House of Commons - including that of a substantial number of Conservative MPs - for freedom of information legislation. The government may find a future Bill much more difficult to resist.

The Conservative MPs who voted against the Bill being talked out at second reading were:
Richard Alexander, Michael Alison, David Atkinson, John Blackburn, Sir Richard Body, Den Dover, Harry Greenway, Alan Howarth, David Knox, John Marshall, Richard Page, Richard Shepherd, Roger Sims, Peter Temple-Morris, Mark Wolfson and Sir Teddy Taylor.