Future of Freedom of Information Act in doubt

The Freedom of Information Act, which underpins the long awaited electronic government initiative, might not make it into the next Queen's speech. Reports that some Cabinet ministers are stepping up opposition to the act have left its fate in doubt. The initiative is designed to make the Government more open and accountable to the electorate.

The future of the act will be debated in the House of Commons this evening.

The chairman of the Select Committee on Public Administration, Rhodri Morgan, confirmed that Minister without Portfolio Peter Mandelson, Home Secretary Jack Straw, the leader of the House of Lords Lord Richard and several others were attempting to block the act. Morgan, a supporter of the act, described the debate as "a battle between the forces of light and the forces of darkness".

Maurice Frankel, chairman of the Campaign for Freedom of Information, said: "It could be delayed for another year, during which time collective enthusiasm will dwindle even further."

The act is the only major piece of legislation to come under Public Services Minister David Clark's care. But the Cabinet Office was not forthcoming. "The government is committed to freedom of information legislation and will bring forward a draft bill as soon as possible," said a spokeswoman.

A major point of contention is the role of the proposed information commissioner. Ministers opposing the act wanted wider grounds for appeal against decisions to publish specific documents. Clark's White Paper on the subject allows the information commissioner to force departments to release information.

Frankel was unimpressed by attempts to delay the act: "Now it is ready to be put forward as a draft bill, and certain government departments looked in horror on what they had already agreed to."