Newspaper of the Campaign for Freedom of Information Numb.er4 50p Campaign begins 1985 with Fol Bills before Commons After a year in which freedom of Squire Bill will now open those information has maintained a committees to public scrutiny as high place on Britain's public and well. .political agenda, the Campaign "It has also been absurd that for Freedom of Information be­ people who attend meetings have gins 1985 with three FoI Bills not been able to have access to the aboutto come before the Houseof papers that would make sense of Commons . the discussions they hear . The Three Members of Parliament, Squire Billwould make the appro­ two Conservative and one Lab­ priate paperwork available ." our, have taken advantage oftheir Robin Squire has been leader of top ten places in the ballot for the majority party on a London Private Member's Bills to intro­ borough council and thus is well­ Robin Squire (above), MP for Horn­ duce their own legislation to equipped to understand the prob­ church, a local councillor for 14 yean, further accountability at local lems involved for both local including 3 years as leader of the London level. authorities and public, and to Borougb of Sutton, is currently parlia· negotiate support from local mentsry Private Secretary to tbe Minister The Conservative MP Robin of State and parliamentary Under Sec­ Squire is to introduce a Bill to authorities. retary of State at the Dept. of Transport. extend freedom of information in The driving force behind the Bill local authorities (see page 7). is the Community Rights Project, Labour's Gerry Bermingham a sister organisation of the High Court backs will introduce a Bill to force water Campaign for Freedom of Infor­ authorities to meet in public (see mation. It is able to demonstrate Fo. Campaigner pages 5-6). Charles Medawar (above), is Director of Social Audit, the support from over 700 local or­ The Conservative MP David organisation chosen as " non-governmental organisation of ganisations and 350 parish and A London councillor bas Madel introduces a Bill to force the year" in the 1984 Freedom of Information Awards. town councils, and has the support achieved a majorbreakthrougb educational authorities to publish of over 150 Members of Parlia­ for tbe principles of account­ Presentation of the awards by the Rt Hon David Steel, the ability and access to in­ more information. Liberal leader, takes place before an invited audience of more . ment. The first two Bills willface their formation in local autborities. second reading on February 1and than 200 public figures, journalists, and supporters of the David Gamper, leader of tbe the third on February 8. campaign. Over200MPs Liberals on Hackney Borougb ~1L,niOO's" .flL"hv~'ati.Q'\ .aL~ §Of;,~i' Q fme 'g~ RJIn~.. Council, took Ibe Council to n . ·@'S....UU ' " gwerUlllcpiese ---rq,. authorities to meet in public (see mation. It is able to demonstrate Fot Campaigner pages 5-6). Charles Medawar (above), is Director of Social Audit, the support from over 700 local or­ The Conservative MP David organisation chosen as "non-governmental organisation of ganisations and 350 parish and A London councillor bas Madel introduces a Bill to force the year" in the 1984 Freedom of Information Awards. town councils, and has the support achieved a major breakthrough educational authorities to publish of over 150 Members of Parlia­ for tbe principles of account­ Presentation of the awards by the Rt Hon David Steel, the ability and access to in ­ more information. Liberal leader, takes place before an invited audience of more . ment. The first two Bills willface their formation in local autborities. second reading on February 1 and than 200 public figures, journalists, and supporters of the David Gamper, leader of tbe the third on February 8. campaign. Over 200 MPs Liberals on Hackney Borougb All pieces of legislation are SocialAuditwaschosen for a "remarkablepieceof research in support Council, took tbe Council to expected to attract considerable tbe Higb Court and acbieved a into the harmful and wasteful effects of secrecy in the' ruling that it bad acted unlaw­ all-party support and will be regulation, promotion, and prescription of drugs in the UK". backed by forceful campaigns in The number of Members of Par­ fully by denying him access to the country. Full story and other awards - page 3. liament who have declared their tbe meetings and documents of Des Wilson, Chairman of the support for the broad aims of the tbe council's direct labour or­ Campaign for Freedom of Infor­ first year of our campaign to self began the process with her Campaign for Freedom of Infor­ ganisation's sub committees. mation, welcoming these initia­ emphasise that secrecyis not just a Private Member's Bill in 1959 to mation has increased from 150 Sir Justice Lloyd said tbat tives by backbench MPs, said the Whitehall problem. It also affects force local authorities to increase since the launch to 205. wben Mr Gamper complained campaign was particularlypleased individuals in their own homes public access to full council and The campaign also has the sup­ of his lack of access tbe council that the lust legislative measures and communities. committee meetings . Un­ port of more than 50 members of " asked wbetber tbe proceed­ should be to increase social ac­ " Itis ironic that one ofthe main fortunately many local authorities tbe House of Lords. ings of tbe sub committee were countability. opponents of freedom of infor­ have simply moved the business The number of organisations in confidential, whicb no doubt "We have been at pains in the mation, the Prime Minister, her- into sub committees, and the the coalition has doubled from 25 tbey were. What tbe council to 50 and the campaign now has sbould bave asked was 532 local affiliate organisations. wbetber, not witbstanding tbe confidential nature of the sub Lords Croham and Scarman committee documents, tbe ap­ Sir Douglas plicants bad a need to know. back statutory 'right to know' Tbe council failed to take ac­ Wassfaces count of this relevant factor, Two of Britain's most re­ closure, but concluded that narrowly defined protective indeed the most relevant factor spected peers, Lord Croham, a greater openness would belp to measure and by a Freedom of ,practicalities' of all". former Head of tbe Civil Ser­ restore trust and confidence. Information Act. Gamper was a member of tbe vice, and Lord Scarman, the " It is on tbose grounds tbat, "A free, democratic society Sir Douglas Wass, former Per­ Housing Services Committee eminent jurist, bave spoken in baving always believedin great­ reqnires tbat tbe law sbould manent Secretary at the Treasury and tbe Public Services Com­ support of a statutory " rigbt to er openness tban we bave bad, I recognise and protect tbe rigbt and joint Head of the Civil Ser­ mittee, and Cbairman of tbe know". bave come to tbe view tbat we of tbe individual to tbe infor­ vice, has begun work with a panel District Housing Committee. LordCrobamin his Chancel­ sbould bave a rigbt to freedom mation necessary to make his of former senior civil servants to He requested and was refused lor'slecture at the University of of information, provided tbat own cboices and decision on look on behalf of the Campaign access to tbe committee papers Salford condemned leaks, and adequate protection is retained public and private matters, to for Freedom ofInformation at the of tbe DLO sub committees and rejected a "public interest" for vital secrets and for privacy express his own opinions and be practical problems (and possible it wasfurtber made clear tbatbe defence for unautborised dis- and tbat there is no suggestion able to correct injustice." solutions) arising from its legis­ could not attend meetings. that deliberate breacbes of con­ lative proposals. The effect of Mr Justice fidence by public employees The panel, whilst not necessar­ Lloyd's ruling thatGamperbad sbould go unpunisbed." ily supporting all of the a legitimate interest in tbe mat­ Lord Crobam was tbe autbor campaign's proposals, broadly ters discussed by tbe committee of tbe Crobam Directive wbicb support repeal of Section 2 of the and could not perform his du­ in 1978called for greatervolun­ Official Secrets Act and the in­ ties properly or effectively as a tary publication of information troduction of freedom of infor­ member oftbecouncil or of two and warned civil servants tbat mation legislation. The other ad­ of its committees witbout bav­ unless it was effective, legis­ visers to the campaign are Lord ing access to tbe agenda, min­ lation could follow. His lecture Croham, Sir Patrick Nairne (for­ utes, and other documents of can be read, tberefore, as an mer Permanent Secretary at the tbe DLO, will be to encourage acknowledgement tbat tbe vol­ DHSS), Sir Kenneth Clucas (for­ bundreds of minority council­ untarv annroacb bas failed. l11er Permanent Secretary _at the InN S1l"rn~~ Rri'gin whn Dr", The Panting Case Civil Servant to face Section 2 Charge Jan 28 The Old Bailey trial of Clive Ponting, the senior civil servant who faces charges of leaking documents ahout the sinking of the Belgrano to Tam Dalyell MP, will begin onJanuary 28. An even more controversial case than that of Sarah Tisdall, who was imprisoned under Section 2 for six months last year, it will attract widespread media attention and conld, whatever the verdict, sound the death knell for Section 2 itself. At the committal hearing at eluded: "We found Section 2 a barrassment. Bow Street Magistrates' Court, mess. Its scope is enormously It is likely to test one or two the prosecution made it clear that wide. Any law which impinges on particular clauses of the Act.