Written question asked by Ivor Caplin (Labour) on Monday, 3 April 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 4 April 2000. It was answered by Jack Straw (Labour) on Tuesday, 4 April 2000 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will publish the draft code of practice to be made under Clause 44 of the Freedom of Information Bill.

Answer: Mr. Caplin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the draft code of practice to be made under clause 44 of the Freedom of Information Bill. [117968] Mr. Straw: I have today placed a copy of a working draft of the code of practice in the Library and it will also be placed on the Home Office website. Clause 44 of the Freedom of Information Bill requires the Secretary of State to issue, and from time to time revise, a code of practice setting out practices which he considers public authorities should follow in the discharge of their duties in relation to Part I of the Bill. It specifies particular matters which must be included in the code such as the assistance that should be given to applicants and procedures for dealing with complaints. The matters to be included in the code are administrative ones that are an important part of good practice. They form an important part of the overall scheme for dealing with requests for information.

Secondary information