FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 AND THE COLCHESTER EVENING GAZETTE

Early day motion 680, tabled 8 February 2005 by Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 5 members.

That this House congratulates the Colchester Evening Gazette, and its Chief Reporter Tom Weatherill, for using the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to obtain papers from Colchester Borough Council relating to the background of land transactions and development proposals in the town's St Botolph's Quarter; notes with concern that such information was seemingly not known to the majority of councillors; is equally concerned that subsequently millions of pounds of public money has been paid, or pledged, by various public bodies in addition to Colchester Borough Council, namely the East of England Development Agency, Arts Council East, Essex County Council and the University of Essex, without this background information being made known to them; recognises that the information obtained through the Evening Gazette investigation vindicates the honourable Member for Colchester for the matters he raised in the Christmas recess Adjournment Debate; calls upon the Government to hold a public inquiry into the St Botolph's Quarter proposals in Colchester; and urges other regional and local newspapers to follow the excellent example of the Colchester Evening Gazette to use the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to glean from local authorities information which otherwise will be kept from residents.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 4, Labour 1.