Results 1-20 of 29 for "freedom of information" speaker:Margaret Beckett

Written Ministerial Statements — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Diplomatic Immunity (Alleged Serious Offences) (20 Jun 2007)

Margaret Beckett: ...data should be processed fairly. This is because the offences are only alleged to have been committed and have not been proven in a court of law. In these circumstances, Section 40 (2) and (3) of the Freedom of Information Act confer an absolute exemption on disclosure of this information.

Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Freedom of Information (1 Nov 2006)

Margaret Beckett: In 2005, the last year for which figures are available, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office refused a total of 22 per cent. of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. This figure breaks down as follows: 8 per cent. were refused because the cost of responding was likely to exceed the £600 cost limit, and 13 per cent. were considered to engage various of the Act's exemptions which prevented...

Oral Answers to Questions — Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Single Payments Scheme (20 Apr 2006)

Margaret Beckett: ...answer the first part of the hon. Lady's question because she asks me about matters for which I have no departmental responsibility. However, I would anticipate that the answer depends on whether a freedom of information request has been made. There was such a request for us to publish the moneys that went to the farming community. They are public funds and I would be surprised if the hon....

Business of the House (23 Nov 2000)

Miss Margaret Beckett: The business of the House for next week is as follows: MONDAY 27 NOVEMBER—Consideration of a timetable motion relating to the Freedom of Information Bill and the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill, followed by consideration of Lords amendments to the Freedom of Information Bill. TUESDAY 28 NOVEMBER—Consideration of Lords amendments to the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill....

Business of the House (16 Nov 2000)

Miss Margaret Beckett: ...the Environment Agency on a motion for the Adjournment of the House. The provisional business for the following week will include: MONDAY 27 NOVEMBER—Consideration of Lords amendments to the Freedom of Information Bill. I should also like to inform the House that the business for the remainder of November in Westminster Hall will be: THURSDAY 23 NOVEMBER—Debate on the Ninth...

Business of the House (2 Nov 2000)

Miss Margaret Beckett: ...report, the Government would be reluctant to stage a much earlier debate, although, as I say, it is open to the hon. Gentleman and to his colleagues to pursue the matter. As for the issue of the Freedom of Information Bill, no doubt that matter, too, will be raised when the Bill returns to the House, but I can only repeat that the Government have striven to get a sound and workable...

Business of the House (26 Oct 2000)

Miss Margaret Beckett: ...;that it is essential to look at the report in the round, and that he wants the House and the public to do that. The hon. Member for North Cornwall makes important points about the implications for freedom of information legislation. The Government believe that the regime that we are establishing is a substantial improvement on the previous one—but the hon. Gentleman will be aware...

Business of the House (30 Mar 2000)

Miss Margaret Beckett: ...for next week is as follows: MONDAY 3 APRIL—Conclusion of remaining stages of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill. TUESDAY 4 APRIL—Progress on remaining stages of the Freedom of Information Bill. WEDNESDAY 5 APRIL—Conclusion of remaining stages of the Freedom of Information Bill. THURSDAY 6 APRIL—Remaining stages of the Armed Forces Discipline...

Business of the House (30 Mar 2000)

Miss Margaret Beckett: ...the House. Indeed, usually, hon. Members complain that they do not get information through written questions. The hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler) asked about the handling of the two-day Freedom of Information Bill debate. I agree that it will be important to try to manage the debate well. It will be possible in that time to air the issues that are genuinely of concern and to...

Business of the House (23 Mar 2000)

Miss Margaret Beckett: ...Reading of the Nuclear Safeguards Bill [Lords]. Conclusion of remaining stages of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill. TUESDAY 4 APRIL—Progress on remaining stages on the Freedom of Information Bill. WEDNESDAY 5 APRIL—Conclusion of remaining stages of the Freedom of Information Bill. THURSDAY 6 APRIL—Remaining stages of the Armed Forces Discipline...

Business of the House (2 Dec 1999)

Miss Margaret Beckett: The business for next week will be as follows: MONDAY 6 DECEMBER—Second Reading of the Government Resources and Accounts Bill. TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER—Second Reading of the Freedom of Information Bill. WEDNESDAY 8 DECEMBER—Until about 7 o'clock, there will be a debate entitled "Cuts in Tube Investment, Ways of Paying for more Tube Investment and the General Transport Budget",...

Business of the House (2 Dec 1999)

Miss Margaret Beckett: It is important that we are to have a debate on the Freedom of Information Bill, which will, for the first time, give a statutory right of freedom to receive information. I take no responsibility for the other debate to which the right hon. Gentleman refers. It is the choice of his right hon. and hon. Friends.

Business of the House (25 Nov 1999)

Miss Margaret Beckett: ...provisional business for the following week will be as follows: MONDAY 6 DECEMBER—Second Reading of the Government Resources and Accounts Bill. TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER—Second Reading of the Freedom of Information ll. WEDNESDAY 8 DECEMBER—Opposition Day [1st Allotted Day]. There will be a debate on an Opposition motion, for which the subject is to be announced. That will...

Business of the House (25 Nov 1999)

Miss Margaret Beckett: ...of our regular contributors at business questions. It is usual to ask one question, not two. However, I shall deal with both his requests. He asked me to appoint a Special Standing Committee on the Freedom of Information Bill. It is important that the Conservative party does not forget that that legislation has already been through a special Committee procedure and has had special...

Orders of the Day — The Economy (24 Nov 1999)

Miss Margaret Beckett: ...doubt that it has benefited from that practical and worthwhile extension of our methods of handling legislation. Our local government legislation was also considered by a Joint Committee. The draft Freedom of Information Bill was examined by the Lords Delegated Legislation and Deregulation Committee, a Lords ad hoc Committee, and separately by the Commons Public Administration Committee,...

Business of the House (21 Oct 1999)

Miss Margaret Beckett: ...accept that hon. Members may have been unhappy with that procedure and, as I have said already to the right hon. Member for North-West Hampshire (Sir G. Young), I will take that on board. As to the Freedom of Information Bill, I say with respect to the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler) that anyone would think that this matter had not been in the public domain and not been...

Oral Answers to Questions — House of Commons: House Procedures (Reform) (28 Jun 1999)

Miss Margaret Beckett: ...prime purpose in being here. The Committees have worked on four draft Bills so far and a joint Committee has been established on the draft local government organisation and standards Bill. The draft freedom of information Bill is before the Public Administration Committee and another Select Committee in the Lords. I entirely share my hon. Friend's view that all these measures will lead to...

Business of the House (17 Jun 1999)

Miss Margaret Beckett: ...although we realise that a great deal of work remains to be done to redress the problems that we inherited. At present, I can give the hon. Gentleman no further information about the timing of the Freedom of Information Bill. However, we look forward eagerly to that debate, as we do not accept that it will reveal any major deficiency; indeed, we believe that many of the criticisms made of...

Business of the House (20 May 1999)

Miss Margaret Beckett: ...in the Food Standards Select Committee. We aim to introduce the legislation in this Session if time is available. The right hon. Gentleman asked about a string of things—GM foods, drugs, freedom of information and Kosovo—and inquired as to when announcements might be made. We will endeavour to make as many announcements as we can before the recess. In response to the right...

Business of the House (20 May 1999)

Miss Margaret Beckett: ...than necessary and becomes more necessary with every day that misleading statements are made by the various campaigners on the issue. The hon. Gentleman asked me to guarantee a statement on the freedom of information Bill, and I do so. I can also tell him that I know that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary intends, as always, to explain with absolute clarity the position that the...