Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Table of statutes
- Table of cases
- Introduction
- 1 Persistent themes and novel problems
- 2 Information and national security
- 3 Government and information: a historical development
- 4 The Freedom of Information Act 2000
- 5 The exemptions
- 6 Decisions and Appeals on FOI Exemptions
- 7 Access to environmental information
- 8 Privacy, access and data protection
- 9 Claims and counterclaims
- 10 Secrecy and access in the European Union
- 11 Openness, information and the courts
- 12 Freedom of information: overseas experience
- 13 Conclusion
- Index
Introduction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Table of statutes
- Table of cases
- Introduction
- 1 Persistent themes and novel problems
- 2 Information and national security
- 3 Government and information: a historical development
- 4 The Freedom of Information Act 2000
- 5 The exemptions
- 6 Decisions and Appeals on FOI Exemptions
- 7 Access to environmental information
- 8 Privacy, access and data protection
- 9 Claims and counterclaims
- 10 Secrecy and access in the European Union
- 11 Openness, information and the courts
- 12 Freedom of information: overseas experience
- 13 Conclusion
- Index
Summary
Most introductions for previous editions of this book have been written in periods of high drama, crisis and feverish activity relating to secrecy or scandals connected to the release of information. The episode concerning MPs expenses' claims, which commenced with a freedom of information (FOI) request, continues that tradition. In May 2009, the promise of major constitutional change was uppermost in the minds of political leaders. A problem that had not been properly addressed by the authorities – what should MPs be paid for being an MP? – led to a disreputable system for expenses that was ill conceived, effectively un-policed and in which greed and cynicism were encouraged. I cannot recall the reputation of Parliament being at a lower ebb. Ministers and celebrated parliamentarians were standing down or faced de-selection. The affair led to the resignation of the Speaker, the first such resignation since 1695. Widespread reform was being promised including efforts to spread power more widely, reinvigorating local government, encouraging independent minded individuals to stand for Parliament, reforms of MPs expenses and independent audit and monitoring of those claims for expenses. The sights quickly moved to empowering MPs and select committees in their scrutiny of the executive (see chapter 9), proportional representation, an elected upper chamber, fixed-term parliaments and reining in the prerogatives of the prime minister (see chapter 9). That old chestnut, a written constitution, soon emerged. The latter would confront two shibboleths of the British constitution: the Crown and parliamentary sovereignty.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Freedom of InformationThe Law, the Practice and the Ideal, pp. 1 - 7Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010