LEGAL PROFESSIONAL PRIVILEGE

Early day motion 1160, tabled 8 May 2003 by Harry Barnes (Labour). Signed by 31 members.

That this House is concerned that Government ministers invariably seek to withhold legal advice received within their Department or from Treasury Counsel under the blanket of the provisions for legal professional privilege, even in instances where the drafted legislation or regulations are designed to protect the public from unfair treatment; believes that the ending of the use of legal professional privilege over measures intended to protect the public interest would facilitate the fuller understanding of the implications of legislative and regulatory proposals so that more relevant amendments could be tabled; and further believes that such an approach would be in keeping with the general intentions of the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Signatures by party: Labour 18, Liberal Democrat 10, Conservative 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.