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The End of the Beginning? The Freedom of Information Bill 1999
Author(s) -
Birkinshaw Patrick,
Parry Nicholas
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of law and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.263
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1467-6478
pISSN - 0263-323X
DOI - 10.1111/1467-6478.00140
Subject(s) - parliament , freedom of information , secrecy , scrutiny , law , government (linguistics) , house of commons , openness to experience , political science , balance (ability) , criticism , legislature , commons , public administration , white paper , politics , psychology , social psychology , philosophy , linguistics , neuroscience
With the publication of its plans for a Bill on Freedom of Information, the new Labour government has been accused of abandoning its promise of greater openness in the way government is conducted in this country and its proposals are seen as a departure from the highly applauded contents of the White Paper published in December 1997. The draft Bill has been pilloried by friend and foe alike. It is seen as a litmus test of Blair's government and where it really stands on the citizen/state relationship and how the future balance will lie between the executive and Parliament. The authors examine the events surrounding the publication of the Bill and its scrutiny by the pre‐legislative select committees in the Commons and Lords. The Home Secretary has hinted at possible concessions in the light of fierce criticism. Is this a Bill worth saving and how can it be improved to capture a more appropriate balance between confidentiality, secrecy, and openness in the conduct of modern governance?