Newspaper of the Campaign for Freedom of Information Campaign finds sweeping support for 'right to know The launch of the Campaign for Time', firmly supported Fol Freedom of Information has been legislation, and another senior widely welcomed by supporters of all Labour Shadow Cabinet member, How MP's may political parties, and by individuals Robin Cook, in his weekly column in and organisations the length and the Times, called for repeal of the promote Fol breadth ofthe country. Official Secrets Act. Parliamentary supporters have increased to 211. As we report on page 2, the legislation number of major organisations Support also came from The Campaign for Freedom of involved in the coalition has, in just unexpected quarters. Sir Douglas Information will this summer publish 15 weeks, increased to 47, and civil Wass, former Joint Head of the Civil a comprehensive Freedom of service and public sector trade unions Service, and Permanent Secretary at Information Bill, including positive are well represented. the Treasury, who in his Reith proposals for a statutory "right to lectures late in 1983 had condemned know" but also clauses to protect The three opposition parties have excessive secrecy, now went a step information which necessarily must taken every opportunity to further and identified himself with remain confidential. It will, therefore, emphasise their support and their both introduce a fresh and free the campaign. "I now believe the case approach to disclosure of information determination to act if elected to is made for repeal of Section 2 of the and also replace the Official Secrets office. Elsewhere in this newspaper, Official Secrets Act and the Act as a protective measure for Labour leader Neil Kinnock, in an introduction of legislation to give information exempted from exclusive article, expresses his greater public access to official disclosure. concern that the last Labour information", he said. Liberal leader, David Steel, has Administration "succumbed to the His conversion was welcomed by obtained leave to introduce such a Bill temptation, left the Official Secrets under the Ten Minute Rule procedure. The Times in a leader. It stated that It will be read for the second time on Act unreformed, a Freedom of "It is time the Whitehall Ice-Age Information Act unlegislated", and July 6 and be printed, but both Mr. came to an end." Steel and the campaign accept that "makes plain" that the Labour Party Other former senior civil servants there is little likelihood of success for will introduce Fol legislation if are expected to join ranks with Sir this initiative in the short term. returned to office. This promise, he Douglas Wass as the months pass. In order to further the cause of says, will be honoured, "as a In the meantime, civil service freedom of information as quickly as priority". possible, the campaign has recruited I now believe the case is made for repeal of union leaders have been outspoken. the support of a number of Members Liberal leader David Steel took the Gerry Gillman of the Society of of Parliament to introduce smaller almost unprecedented step for a Section 2 of the Official Secrets Act and Civil and Public Servants declared freedom of information bills on party leader of adopting the Ten that the lifting of the "curtain of specific subjects. These are: Minute Rule procedure to introduce legislation to give greater public access to official secrecy" was overdue. "Our support • Local Government (Access to a Freedom of Information Bill to the information.' demonstrates that it is not civil Information) Bill House of Commons. He ack­ servants who want secrecy: it is their To be introduced by Conservative MP nowledged that it stood little chance Sir Douglas Wass, KCB, Permanent Secretary to the political masters, who love to Robin Squire, Labour MP Allan of success at this time, but said he had manipulate the media presentation of Roberts, and Liberal MP Simon Treasury 1974-83, Joint Head of the Home Civil Servce issues and who fear that full exposure Hughes, it will give the public the introduced the bill "in order to draw 1981-83 right to attend local authority sub­ maximum attention to the issue of the facts will reveal how many of committee meetings, give the right of itself". Reaffirming his personal their decisions are taken through access to a variety of local authority support for freedom of information, prejudice rather than through documents, and lead to less secrecy in he said, "If ever there were a subject SDP leader David Owen Labour's shadow foreign rational discussion." Town Halls. It has considerable on which the collective will of emphasised the importance of secretary, Denis Healey, appearing Rodney Bickerstaff of NUPE support from many local authorities parliament should prevail over that of stated "the whole of British public already and some are even acting freedom of information in a with Des Wilson, chairman of the voluntarily. the government ofthe day, this surely conference speech on civil liberties Campaign for Freedom of life is dogged by excessive and • Access to Personal Files Bill is it". and the freedom of the individual. Information, on BBC's 'Question unjustified secrecy. We are To be introduced initially under the systematically starved of Ten Minute Rule procedure by Chris information about how, when and Smith MP, this will give individuals why central and local government access to information held in files take decisions...Democracy cannot about themselves, including medical, Early successes for Fol cause flourish in a climate which denies housing, social security, health, social The cause of freedom of issue, and 25 councils have already Friends of the Earth were citizens the right to make properly- information has already been sent financial contributions. responsible for the industry's informed choices. "NUPE, whose members work in "Freedom of information .... notably advanced during the As Maurice Frankel reports on decision that it needed to develop public services rife with 'behind opening weeks ofthe Campaign. page 7, within a month of the a credible position." is a commitment which will be closed doors' decision-making, honoured as a priority by the The advances correspond with publication by the Campaign of Since the Campaign was pledges its full support to the the Campaign's initial priorities - a Friends of the Earth report on launched, with its emphasis on the campaign to promote the case for next Labour Government." less secrecy by local authorities, secrecy and environmental need for individuals to have access statutory access to official files, and Rt. Hon. Neil Kinnock, Leader of the pollution, its views were Opposition, in an exclusive article for more information on environ­ to their personal files, a series of repeal of the Official Secrets Act and "Secrets", page 3. mental pollution, and access by comprehensively endorsed by the meetings have taken place with other restrictive laws." individuals to their own personal Royal Commission on representatives of the social Britain's most serious newspapers files. Environmental Pollution, whose have welcomed the campaign. The services, education, housing services, and Inland Revenue records, Chairman, Professor Sir Richard Guardian stated: "It is a more than On the Town Hall issue, the authorities, and health worthy cause: the campaign is being and also the opportunity to correct Campaign works in partnership Southwood, said on Channel 4 professions. The National Union organised with considerable inaccurate information. with the Community Rights News that of all the issues dealt of Teachers has published a intelligence and impressive support; • Water Authorities (Meetings) Act Project, headed by Ron Bailey, with by the Commission, secrecy discussion document in broad and perhaps most significant of all, 1984 should be considered the priority This Bill, probably to be introduced by who in a special Secrets File with accord with the Campaign's there is already a perceptible a Conservative MP, will apply the this newspaper reports that local problem. proposals, and the Inner London nervousness in Whitehall about its Public Bodies (Admissions to authorities throughout Britain Education Authority has given a chances of success .... The whole of Meetings) Act 1960 to all water have responded positively to a Pesticides Secrets firm lead to other authorities British public life is pervaded by authorities and repeal that section of the Water Act 1983 allowing water proposed Bill to open sub­ The magazine ENDS reports throughout Britain with a decision systemmatic secrecy and obsessive belief that the public should only be authorities to meet in secret. committees and make more that the pesticides industry has to enable parents to have access to informed in exceptional The Campaign also hopes to documents available to the public. decided to end 25 years of children's school files. circumstances. Democracy cannot introduce a bill to deal with secrecy in One local authority, Bradford confidentiality in pesticides Des Wilson, Chairman of the the area of environmental pollution, flourish in such a climate, which can possibly implementing the various City Council, has decided to safety. It has decided "that safety Campaign, told its Spring press only change if the presumption recommendations of the Royal implement all the provisions ofthe data for all pesticides currently conference that "while there is no changes in favour of the public's right Commission on Environmental Bill immediately, without waiting cleared...for use in the UK will be doubt that we need to have to know." Pollution (See page 7), and a bill to for legislation, and has had available to the public". The legislation to achieve adequate The Scotsman described the Prime deal with secrecy in the area of food and drugs. detailed talks with the Campaign magazine says that "In an freedom of information in Britain, Minister's view that availability of information would "undermine The Campaign believes these about the practicalities.