Norman Lamb, Simon Wright, and April Pond on Freedom of Information
June 1, 2007 12:00 AM
Published 1 June by the Eastern Daily Press:
Dear sir,
We would be very grateful if we could use your columns to highlight our disgust at the Bill introduced by Conservative MP David Maclean which will remove Parliament from the scope of the Freedom of Information Act.
If readers share our views, we would urge them to sign the national Liberal Democrat petition demanding that Parliament should remain subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
The Bill has now been passed by the House of Commons, but there is still a chance that it could be blocked in the House of Lords.
We believe that it is essential that people make it clear that what has happened so far is totally unacceptable and brings shame on our national Parliament - and diminishes its reputation.
It is clear that an unholy alliance of Government whips and the former Chief Whip of the Conservative Party has combined to push this Bill through the Commons.
The Government claims that it is neutral about this Bill, but all the evidence indicates that this is grossly misleading.
We believe that the public has a right to access the same information from Parliament as they have under the Freedom of Information Act from any other public body.
If readers want to sign the petition, they can go to the link on www.simonwright.org.uk or they can write to us at Freepost ANG20481, 15 Market Place, North Walsham NR28 9BR.
Yours faithfully,
Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk
Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South
April Pond, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Broadland
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