Motion text
That this House believes that the Freedom of Information Act (2000) is a landmark piece of legislation which, when properly applied, helps to achieve democratic, public accountability and transparency across government; regrets that, too often, legitimate applications from the public are frustrated, delayed or illegitimately denied; notes that a key principle of the legislation is that requests should be treated in a “applicant-blind” process; further notes with concern indications that the Cabinet Office has been operating a secretive Clearing House, logging and scrutinising the identities of applicants, and withholding information to individuals based on their work as journalists; notes that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office went on public record to call such reports “ridiculous and tendentious”; recognises that in a recent Informational Tribunal ruling, the judge found that arguments presented in court by the Cabinet Office about the controversial Clearing House unit were ‘misleading’ and that there is a “profound lack of transparency about the operation”, which might “extend to ministers”; welcomes the vital investigations being held by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee into these matters, and joins Open Democracy and the National Union of Journalists in calling on the Committee to investigate whether any breach of the Ministerial Code has been committed; and urges that all necessary steps are taken to ensure that Freedom of Information legislation is properly applied and enforced.
Signatures (33)
The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.
Mishra, Navendu
Labour
Signed on
15 June 2021
Morris, Grahame
Labour
Signed on
15 June 2021
Cooper, Daisy
Liberal Democrat
Signed on
15 June 2021
Lucas, Caroline
Green Party
Signed on
15 June 2021
Stephens, Chris
Scottish National Party
Signed on
15 June 2021
Saville Roberts, Liz
Plaid Cymru
Signed on
15 June 2021
In addition to the sponsors, the following Members have signed to support the motion.
Barker, Paula
Labour
Signed on
15 June 2021
Whitley, Mick
Labour
Signed on
15 June 2021
Osborne, Kate
Labour
Signed on
16 June 2021
Webbe, Claudia
Independent
Signed on
16 June 2021
Gwynne, Andrew
Labour
Signed on
16 June 2021
MacAskill, Kenny
Alba Party
Signed on
16 June 2021
Long Bailey, Rebecca
Labour
Signed on
16 June 2021
Sheppard, Tommy
Scottish National Party
Signed on
16 June 2021
Thomson, Richard
Scottish National Party
Signed on
16 June 2021
Dorans, Allan
Scottish National Party
Signed on
16 June 2021
Johnson, Kim
Labour
Signed on
16 June 2021
Lavery, Ian
Labour
Signed on
16 June 2021
Trickett, Jon
Labour
Signed on
16 June 2021
Foy, Mary Kelly
Labour
Signed on
16 June 2021
Mearns, Ian
Labour
Signed on
16 June 2021
Byrne, Ian
Labour
Signed on
16 June 2021
Lake, Ben
Plaid Cymru
Signed on
17 June 2021
Chamberlain, Wendy
Liberal Democrat
Signed on
17 June 2021
Williams, Hywel
Plaid Cymru
Signed on
21 June 2021
Monaghan, Carol
Scottish National Party
Signed on
21 June 2021
Fellows, Marion
Scottish National Party
Signed on
21 June 2021
McDonnell, John
Labour
Signed on
21 June 2021
Jardine, Christine
Liberal Democrat
Signed on
22 June 2021
Carden, Dan
Labour
Signed on
23 June 2021
Ribeiro-Addy, Bell
Labour
Signed on
24 June 2021
Hanvey, Neale
Alba Party
Signed on
29 June 2021
Maskell, Rachael
Labour
Signed on
24 January 2022
There are no withdrawn signatures for this motion.