Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Andrew Gwynne (Labour). It was answered on Tuesday, 21 November 2006 on behalf of the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

FOI Complaints

Question: A real issue, and a cause of concern to the Information Commissioner, is that the Freedom of Information Act 2000 does not cover those functions formerly of local authorities that were transferred to trusts such as Stockport Sports Trust, which is now making decisions behind closed doors. Does the Minister agree that changes to freedom of information rules are required to bring such bodies into line with those provisions and similar ones, such as the access to information provisions in the Local Government Act 1972?

Answer: My hon. Friend makes a strong point. I think that he has made it before, and I agreed with him then, as I do now, that just because we have brought 110,000 public bodies within the ambit of this provision does not mean that we have gone as far as we need to go. There is an analogous problem with the application of the Human Rights Act 1998 to the private suppliers who deliver public functions, and I assure my hon. Friend that the Government are looking into those problems.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 453 c410
Session: 2006-07
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Disclosure of information Freedom of information Public bodies Trusts Information Commissioner's Office Complaints
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk