Freedom of Information Bill comes under fire

The Freedom of Information Bill has been heavily criticised by two select committees investigating the latest government proposals.

The House of Commons select committee on public administration claims the Bill is, "so hedged about with qualifications and exemptions that it will not cover a large amount of information which the public might want".

The recommendations continue by asking that the Bill, "be based more firmly on clear rights and less on discretionary duties. This requires a re-balancing of the draft Bill in the direction of the right to know".

The House of Lords committee was just as damning, claiming the Bill, "Abandons the Freedom of Information principles expressed in the White Paper."

The Campaign for the Freedom of Information welcomed the recommendations. Maurice Frankel, director at the pressure group, said: "The two main things we would like to see happen are the Information Commissioner should have the right to make the final decision on disclosure, and secondly the end to blanket or class exceptions to the law."

Frankel explained that certain areas are excluded - for instance any information relating to the formation of government policy cannot be released to the public.