Blair urged to counter secrecy in Whitehall (Re: Report on David Kelly)

[Whoa_Nelly]

By James Blitz
Published: January 5 2004 21:50 | Last Updated: January 5 2004 21:50


Tony Blair is being urged to lift the veil of secrecy over many government documents in the wake of the Hutton inquiry, which saw the unprecedented publication by Whitehall departments of internal e-mails and correspondence.


As the prime minister prepares for Lord Hutton's report on the apparent suicide of David Kelly, an overhaul of freedom of information legislation has emerged as one of the strongest recommendations in the aftermath of the affair.


<snip>
At the heart of the committee's recommendations is the call for an overhaul of the Freedom of Information Act that would make it easier for documents of the kind submitted to the Hutton inquiry to be published.

<snip>
The committee recommends the government waive the ministerial right of veto altogether. It proposes that the "harm test" should be toughened to prevent publication only where there is a danger of doing "substantial harm". It also proposes that, where possible, existing "class exemptions" should not apply.

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[goforit]

1. Way to go England!!.........Freedom of information is a must!!!

Here Here!!!