Results 1-20 of 35 for "freedom of information" speaker:Mike O'Brien

Written Answers — Energy and Climate Change: Departmental Freedom of Information (26 Feb 2009)

Mike O'Brien: The Ministry of Justice publishes quarterly reports containing statistical information on freedom of information requests received by monitored bodies (including central Government Departments). These reports can be found at the following address: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/freedomofinformationq uarterly.htm The latest published data currently relate to information requests...

Public Bill Committee: Pensions Bill: New Clause 7 (21 Feb 2008)

Mike O'Brien: I have no problem with the broad thrust of the hon. Gentleman’s proposal: that the Information Commissioner should be able to cover this, and that the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and data protection  provisions will apply in the normal way. They already do. We do not need this. That is the problem. The Government already have the necessary provisions in place. Indeed, section...

Written Answers — Solicitor-General: Courts Martial (23 Feb 2007)

Mike O'Brien: ...proceedings and were referred to in the related Court of Appeal judgment. The correspondence comprises confidential communications between Ministers of a kind exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. There is therefore no intention to publish the correspondence.

Public Bill Committee: Company Law Reform Bill [Lords]: Clause 648 (18 Jul 2006)

Mike O'Brien: I do not think that the analogy with the FOI legislation is appropriate. This information is intended to be confidential, not freely disclosed. The clause is not about freedom of information. I cannot envisage any circumstances in which the documents would be made public through the granting of an FOI request. People can make requests about many things, but often the FOI legislation will not...

Written Ministerial Statements — Solicitor-General: Iraq Legal Advice (Freedom of Information) (25 May 2006)

Mike O'Brien: The information Commissioner has today published an enforcement notice under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to requests for information relating to the advice given on the legality of military intervention in Iraq in 2003. The Cabinet Office and the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers have issued a disclosure statement which the information commissioner is satisfied meets...

Written Answers — Solicitor-General: Devolved Legislatures (8 Dec 2005)

Mike O'Brien: ...outlined in the Department for Constitutional Affairs' Devolution Guidance Note #12 Attendance of UK Ministers and Officials at Committees of the devolved legislatures"; and the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act. The principles underlying the provision of information to House of Commons Select Committees are set out in Departmental Evidence and Response to Select Committees",...

Written Answers — Solicitor-General: Freedom of Information (17 Nov 2005)

Mike O'Brien: Information about the handling of Freedom of Information requests is published in Freedom of Information Statistics on Implementation in Central Government". The most recently published report was 30 September 2005 and copies were placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Additional information about the role of the Clearing House can be found on the Department of Constitutional Affairs'...

Written Answers — Solicitor-General: Attorney-General (Publications) (20 Jul 2005)

Mike O'Brien: ...who have requested copies. Area reports are also sent to Members of Parliament whose constituents are served by the inspected area. HMCPSI also published a Race Equality Scheme (April 2002) and a Freedom of Information Scheme (July 2003). The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office was established in April 2005 and has to date made no publications. For its predecessor, the Customs and...

Ministerial Conduct (DTLR) (23 Oct 2001)

Mr Mike O'Brien: ...alone will judge whether it was good politics. It was certainly a move away from the blame culture that civil servants worry about all too often as they make decisions. Indeed, as we move towards freedom of information it will be especially worrying for civil servants to realise that much of what they do can find its way quickly into the public arena. We must get away from that culture of...

Home Affairs and Constitution (27 Jun 2001)

Mr Mike O'Brien: ...in his current position. The Government are reforming and radical, and I have played a part in some of the reforms. I contributed to constitutional reform, including the Human Rights Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. Those measures made important changes, and I want the Government to continue with a programme of radical reform. I...

Medical Research (30 Jan 2001)

Mr Mike O'Brien: ...such as the RSPCA have achieved change through argument and debate. On the other hand, by the use of violence, the extremists have prevented change that might have taken place--for example, on freedom of information. When there is a clear threat of violence, it is difficult to agree to greater freedom of information if it might result in intimidation of and violence towards individuals who...

Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill: Schedule 1 (30 Nov 2000)

Mr Mike O'Brien: The appointment of anyone to any panel or organisation will be subject to freedom of information legislation.

Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill: Schedule 1 (30 Nov 2000)

Mr Mike O'Brien: That is not so under freedom of information legislation. Under the Act, the probation service, like any public authority, will be obliged to have a system for ensuring the publication of information; it will have to have mechanisms for that. The sort of information that will be provided will be considered under that legislation in the normal way. Public authorities will probably make much of...

Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill: Clause 3 (29 Nov 2000)

Mr Mike O'Brien: The Bill contains nothing that would oblige the commission to publish in a particular way. As hon. Members know, however, the Freedom of Information Bill was all too recently considered by the House and will change for the better the behaviour of many organisations and institutions, and create greater openness. The Electoral Commission and the Parliamentary Parties Panel must have regard to...

Orders of the Day — Freedom of Information Bill: General Right of Access to Information Held by Public Authorities (27 Nov 2000)

Mr Mike O'Brien: ...The measure will change the culture not only in Whitehall, but in the public sector as a whole. It will open up that culture, and end the secrecy that the last Government accepted. Having promised a freedom of information Bill in its 1979 manifesto, the Conservative party simply dropped that, and made do with a code of practice that had no statutory effect whatever. As a result, there was...

Orders of the Day — Freedom of Information Bill: General Right of Access to Information Held by Public Authorities (27 Nov 2000)

Mr Mike O'Brien: ...for personal privacy, commercial confidentiality and effective government. We do not want a similar situation to that in America, where commercial companies make 60 per cent. of applications under freedom of information legislation. Nor do we want to remove the right to ensure that government operates effectively. The public interest test seeks to ensure that, even where there is an...

Orders of the Day — Freedom of Information Bill: General Right of Access to Information Held by Public Authorities (27 Nov 2000)

Mr Mike O'Brien: I shall give way to the hon. Gentleman, who is helpful on many occasions. I have noticed, as he must have done, that now that the Opposition have suddenly found an interest in freedom of information, they have removed him from his former position—he who was in many ways far more expert than others in dealing with such matters.

Orders of the Day — Freedom of Information Bill: Information Supplied by, or Relating to, Bodies Dealing with Security Matters (5 Apr 2000)

Mr Mike O'Brien: ...evidential certificates. That information is extremely sensitive, and access to it must necessarily be restricted to the smallest number of people possible. Disclosure in the course of enforcing freedom of information must be to the extent necessary to ensure that the exemption is not being abused, and no further. In that unique instance, it is not appropriate for the Information...

Orders of the Day — Freedom of Information Bill: Discretionary Disclosures (5 Apr 2000)

Mr Mike O'Brien: ...their wish to do so. We have delivered the White Paper broadly as promised, but personal files will be covered by access, to some extent, under the DPA; other files may well be accessible via the freedom of information legislation. I make no apology for going into a realm of some complexity as my hon. Friend did. It will take some time, but that is necessary in order to deal with an...

Orders of the Day — Freedom of Information Bill: Discretionary Disclosures (5 Apr 2000)

Mr Mike O'Brien: ...Wanstead (Mr. Cohen) for the thorough way in which he has addressed important issues. My hon. Friend described the complex interface between the Data Protection Act 1998 and what will become the Freedom of Information Act; he might also have mentioned the complex relationship that is superimposed on that by the Human Rights Act 1998. Each of those pieces of legislation will interplay with...