Freedom of information
This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on freedom of information. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.
Standard Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 16.07.2013 | Public records, freedom of information and the Royal Family |
| This Note outlines exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act relating to the Royal Family. | |
| 12.07.2013 | Freedom of Information requests |
| From 1 January 2005, individuals were given the right to make requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This note gives a brief summary of the rights in relation to Freedom of Information to enable requesters to understand the statutory background. | |
| 04.07.2013 | Fees for FoI requests |
| This Note sets out the legal position on charging fees for Freedom of Information requests. | |
| 29.01.2013 | FoI and Ministerial vetoes |
| The Lord Chancellor, Jack Straw, issued the first ministerial veto in relation to a FoI request on 23 February 2009 for the contents of the legal advice on military action against Iraq. Two subsequent vetoes were issued protecting communications on devolution issues and a fourth on. A fourth veto was issued on 8 May 2012 blocking the release of the NHS Transitional Risk Register and a fifth in July 2012 blocking extracts from Cabinet minutes on the military action against Iraq in 2003. The most recent, the sixth, was on 16 October 2012, relating to the release of correspondence from Prince Charles to Government departments. This Standard Note traces the history of the veto within FoI legislation and summarises comparative examples abroad. | |
| 05.12.2012 | MPs and FoI |
| Freedom of Information and MPs |
Research Papers
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 28.06.2011 | Protection of Freedoms Bill: Committee Stage Report Bill 189 of 2010-11 |
| This is a report on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Protection of Freedoms Bill. It complements Research Paper 11/20 prepared for the Commons Second Reading. | |
| 21.02.2007 | The Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill [Bill 62 2006-07] |
| This Research Paper sets out the background to the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2006-07. | |
| 24.11.2004 | Freedom of Information implementation |
| Freedom of Information implementation. House of Commons Library Research Paper 04/84. | |
| 23.11.2000 | Freedom of Information Bill - Lords amendments (HL Bill 129 1999/2000) |
| The Freedom of Information Bill - Lords amendments (HL Bill 129 of 1999/2000). House of Commons Library Research Paper 00/89. | |
| 03.12.1999 | Freedom of Information Bill (Bill 5 1999/2000) |
| The Freedom of Information Bill (Bill 5 of 1999/2000). House of Commons Library Research Paper 99/98. |
Select Committee Reports
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 19.12.2011 | Memorandum to the Justice Select Committee on Post-legislative assessment of the Freedom of Information... |
| Justice Select Committee report [Commons] | |
| 13.10.2009 | Policing process of Home Office leaks inquiry. |
| Government response. Home Office; Home Affairs Select Committee report [Commons] | |
| 09.06.2009 | Access to EU documents. |
| European Union Select Committee (HL) report [Lords] | |
| 31.03.2009 | Policing process of Home Office leaks inquiry. |
| Home Affairs Select Committee report [Commons] | |
| 03.02.2009 | The work of the Information Commissioner: appointment of a new Commissioner. |
| Justice Select Committee report [Commons] |
Early Day Motions
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 08.09.2010 | COVERT SURVEILLANCE BY LOCAL COUNCILS |
| That this House is concerned by the moral hazard involved in covert surveillance by local councils; regrets that this was enabled and encouraged by the previous Labour Government's ... | |
| 23.06.2010 | FREEDOM OF INFORMATION IN THE EU |
| That this House believes that all levels of government should be underpinned by the principle of good governance; notes the importance that transparency brings to public accountability ... | |
| 08.06.2010 | FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION |
| That this House notes that section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, as recently interpreted by the Court of Appeal, prevents the Home Office from disclosing all information, ... | |
| 13.01.2010 | FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND COMPANIES OWNED BY TWO OR MORE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES |
| That this House notes that section 6 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, with certain exceptions, makes companies wholly owned by the Crown or by a single public authority subject ... | |
| 12.01.2010 | FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 AND THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD |
| That this House notes the contribution to UK society of the Freedom of Information Act 2000; further notes the importance of public accountability; believes that the public has a right ... |
Lords Library Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 03.11.2011 | Protection of Freedoms Bill (HL Bill 99 of 2010-12) |
| This Library Note provides background information in advance of the Protection of Freedoms Bill's second reading in the House of Lords. |
