Newspaper of the 1984 Campaign for Freedom of Information No.1 Political Leaders back call for freedom of information lOur rlgh to know' The most substantial British campaign Individual activists in the campaign ever for freedom of information and a included Bernard Donoughue, former statutory "right to know" has been No. 10 Downing Street advisor; launched with such clear and categori- Harold Evans, former editor of The cal support from the leaders of all Times and The Sunday Times; Peter opposition parties that success at least Jay, former UK Ambassador to Wash- in the longer term appears inevitable. ington, and Chairman of the National The Chairman ofthe 1984 Commit- Council for Voluntary Organisations; tee, Des Wilson, read to a press confer- Michael Shanks, Chairman of the ence to launch the Campaign for Free- National Consumer Council; Dame dom ofInformation on January 5 sup- Elizabeth Ackroyd, former Director portive letters from Neil Kinnock, of the Consumers' Association, and David Steel, and David Owen, and now Chairman of the Patients' Asso- named over 150 Members of Parlia- ciation; and television campaigner ment and 50 Members of the House of Esther Rantzen. Lords who supported the broad objec- The campaign's broad objectives tives of the campaign. are headed by a drive to secure a statu- Neil Kfnnock stated that: "A thriv- tory right of access to all information ing democracy depends on clear, full held by government and other public information, fairly presented, for all sector bodies, other than that for which our citizens. Information is the lever of sl?ecific statutory protection is pro- power and in a free society free people Vided, and to place on these bodies an should have maximum access to and "I welcome and support "I pledge the full support "Government is too obligation to disclose such informa- control over that lever. tion. the 1984 Campaign .•. I of my party •.. whoever centralised, bureaucratic, Thus the campaign is concerned "I want to emphasise both the with both national and local govern- importance of the issue itself and the emphasise the importance needs mformation for any and secretive, and is ment and also with other public organ- commitment of the Labour Parry to of the issue itself and the legitimate purpose should desperately in need of new freedom of information legisla- isations and utilities. tion which will strengthen Britain's commitment of the be able to get it unless reform ... the campaign However, the campaign extends its democracy by requiring authorities Labour Party to freedom there is some clear, could be the vehicle for objectives to organisations in the pri- to justify withholding information." vate sector, requiring a statutory obli- of information specific and valid reason this and has my best gation to give access to and disclose (The 1983 Labour Party Manifesto wishes." such information "as may be required promised a Freedom of Information legislation. " why not." Rt. Hon. Neil Kinnock Rt. Hon. David Owen Rt. Hon. David Steel by the public interest". Act.) It seeks to promote a Freedom of David Steel, leader of the Liberal Leader, The Labour Party Leader, Social Democrats Leader, The Liberal Party Information Act and to repeal the Party, wrote that "freedom of infor- Official Secrets Acts and replace them mation is vital to the regeneration of by one Act giving such protection to our society. Resting on our laurels as official information as may be neces- the oldest modern democracy, we sary for national security. have become smug and compla- Commenting on the considerable power, would be seen as a fundamen- be dismissed by the electorate, so it is In addition to pressing for this major cent ... our government is too central- political support for the campaign, tal betrayal of the electors. Not only inevitable that we willhave freedom of legislation, the campaign hopes to ised, too bureaucratic and too secre- Des Wilson said that the organisers still have they stated in their 1983 manifes- information legislation." monitor all Bills introduced into Parl- tive, and is desperately in need of hoped that the Thatcher Administra- tos (and willpresumably repeat in sub- He pointed to all-party support for iament and to add provisions for reform. tion would respond to the widespread sequent manifestos) that they will the campaign, including support from public access and disclosure where "It is ironic that the Freedom of concern about excessive secrecy and legislate, but the three leaders most Conservatives, and named organisa- relevant. Information Bill sponsored by my col- would support freedom of information likely to be at the helm when the next tions that would be fully involved in It hopes to identify and seeks to league Clement Freud MP should legislation rather than unconvincing election occurs have committed them- the campaign, contributing finance, repeal all unnecessary secrecy provi- have fallen due to the intervention of voluntary changes. selves clearly and categorically. research, and campaigning staff. In sions in existing legislation. the 1979 General Election. 1welcome "In any event, the opposition parties "At least we now know that Just as it addition, other organisations had indi- However, the campaign emphasises this opportunity to renew our com- are surely committed to the point is inevitable that the present ruling cated their basic concern by becoming also what it will not seek - it acknow- mitment to freedom of information. where a failure to act, if they come to party will one day, rightly or wrongly, observer organisations. ledges that an element of confiden- "The Campaign for Freedom of tiahty remains necessary and will not Information could be the vehicle for seek the disclosure of information that this reform and it has my best wishes would endanger national security, for every success in its efforts." impair relations between governments (The Liberal Party-SDP Alliance ana others, adversely affect sterling or promised Freedom of Information Mrs. Thatcher Ito be convinced' the reserves, adversely affect law legislation in its 1983 erogramme.) enforcement, breach genuine com- David Owen wrote: 'The public has The political battIelines on freedom Mrs. Thatcher once introduced a able to Parliament and "a statutory mercial confidentiality, or invade in- the right to know whether it is being of information are likely to be Private Members Bill to open local right of public access would remove dividual privacy. governed lawfully and efficiently. drawn over whether or not it authority meetings to the public but this enormously important area of A subject of considerable debate by Whoever needs information for any requires legislation. All the main she has since been criticised as a decision-making from Ministers the Council for Freedom of Informa- legitimate purpose within our society opposition parties share the view of defender of secrecy. The Times in a and Parliament and transfer ulti- tion, the campaign's policy-making should be able to get it unless there is the 1984 Campaign that it does. leading article in 1979 said: "Mrs. mate decisions to the courts. No body, was whether advice, opinions, or some clear, specific and valid reason The Prime Minister, however, is to Thatcher has passionately criticised matter how carefully the right were recommendations intended by civil why it should be withheld. The SDP be convinced. the closed shop in many areas of defined and circumscribed, that servants and others to assist with policy is to introduce a comprehen- In a lukewarm letter to the cam- British life. She should not now would be the essential constitu- Ministerial policy-making should sive Freedom of Information and paign the Rt. Hon. Margaret countenance a closed shop for tional result. The issues requiring remain confidential. It was finally con- Expression Act which would include Thatcher "welcomes any move to information." More recently - in interpretation would tend to be pol- cluded that an element of confiden- such measures as the establishment of help ensure that public demands for 1983 - it warned her "government itical rather than judicial, and the tiality was necessary for free and frank the principle that all government infor- information are heard and as far as is public business - not a private relationship between the judiciary policy-making discussion, and that the mation is freely available unless other- possible satisfied", but she adds firm - it should comport itself and the legislature could be greatly campaign would not seek legislative wise stated. The legislation would also "we already have a clear policy to accordingly" . damaged. But above all, Ministers' controls over confidentiality of such include the right of individuals to have make more information available accountability to Parliament would advice, provided it was broad advice, access to information on themselves, and the necessary machinery to do The Prime Minister, however, be reduced and Parliament itself and not specific scientific and technical subject to a code of practice defining so". argues that Ministers are account- diminished. " advice based on fact and expertise. exceptions and limitations." This should be widely available. Unique coalition will The 1984 Idemonstrate. wide, CAMPAIGN FOR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION 2 Northdown Street, London Nl'9BG Tel: 01-2789686 public concern over Supporting Organisations National Council of Voluntary Legal Action Group Organisations Friends of the Earth Town and Country Planning MIND Association Transport 2000 excessive