By Suzanna Kerridge, 18 February 1999 00:25
NEWS The UK government's Freedom of Information Bill could be further delayed after Home Office minister, Lord Williams of Mostyn, refused to name its publication date. It has emerged that during a debate following the second reading of the bill in the House of Lords, Lord Williams refused to commit himself further than saying the bill could be expected by the end of the current parliamentary session - due to end in October or November. This is just the latest in a series of delays. The draft copy had been promised for September last year. In November, Lord Williams told peers the bill could be expected "early in the New Year". Now Tory supporters fear the bill may not see the light the summer or even autumn. A spokesman for the Campaign for Freedom of Information claimed the upcoming Scottish and Welsh election could delay the bill further. He said: "Our understanding is that it will be out by the end of March but if it isn't out by then, it will not be out until after these elections because the government will impose a moratorium on documents while it sorts them out." The campaign group says the bill lost an important ally when public service minister David Clark was removed in the last Cabinet reshuffle.
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