Tom Brake MP: FOI Laws are 'fundamental to our democracy'

Our Freedom of Information Act is vital to good Government, that’s why it must be extended.

We all want Government that protects the most vulnerable, encourages prosperity and harmony and doesn’t put the interests of its friends first. A good Government is one which is trusted and respected by the public. That makes the Freedom of Information Act so important.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOI Act) fosters necessary openness and transparency in Government. It gives the public a greater understanding of what their Government is doing and how this affects the country. From Freedom of Information requests uncovering figures of A&E Ambulance delays and policing costs to, famously, the MPs expenses scandal, we all benefit from the ability to obtain and reveal embarrassing information.

Our Freedom of Information Act is far from perfect. It needs strengthening but the Government is actively trying to dilute the power of the Act. This is why I am moving for its extension, and introducing my Freedom of Information (Public Interest and Transparency) Bill to Parliament.

I want to end the long standing hypocrisy of the ‘Ministerial veto’ which allows Ministers to block FOI requests. The most famous example being that of Jack Straw who blocked the public release of minutes from meetings preceding the Blair Government’s decision to lead our nation into an illegal war in Iraq.

I also want to end the ability of the Speaker to veto FOI requests related to the running of Parliament without first requiring a public-interest test.

Most importantly, I want to end an anomaly. The FOI Act fails to cover private companies contracted to carry out public sector work. This includes Serco and G4S, undertaking important security work, companies operating some of our hospitals, and the much maligned train operators, Thameslink and Southern Rail.

It’s incongruous that such companies directly provide public services but escape public scrutiny and investigation. My Bill will extend the FOI Act to cover private companies, social enterprises, and charities supplying public services.

Furthermore, this Bill will end the seemingly endless time that organisations and Government departments have to respond to FOI requests. The introduction of a statutory time limit will force requests to be dealt with promptly.

Well-functioning freedom of information laws are fundamental to our democracy. Particularly, when there is a sole party in Government and no credible main opposition, it becomes more important than ever that the public and the press can hold our Government to account. For that reason, today, I unequivocally call for the expansion of the Freedom of Information Act.