FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

Early day motion 1589, tabled 22 July 1998 by Lord Foster of Bishop Auckland (Labour). Signed by 241 members.

That this House welcomes the Prime Minister's statement in 1996 that a Freedom of Information Act 'is not some isolated constitutional reform' but 'a change that is absolutely fundamental to how we see politics developing in this country over the next few years'; congratulates the Government on its Freedom of Information White Paper; expresses concern at the prospect of any delay in bringing the measure forward; and calls on the Government to publish its draft Freedom of Information Bill before the end of the current session and to ensure that the actual Bill is introduced in the coming session.

Signatures by party: Labour 180, Liberal Democrat 37, Labour/Co-operative 14, Plaid Cymru 4, Scottish National Party 2, Conservative 1, UKUP 1, UUP 1.