Results 1-13 of 13 for "freedom of information" speaker:Ann Widdecombe

Orders of the Day — Interpretation (27 Nov 2000)

Miss Ann Widdecombe: ...Minister said: It is time to sweep away the cobwebs of secrecy which hang over far too much government activity. If trust in the people means anything … there can be no argument against a Freedom of Information Act. It seems to have escaped the Home Secretary that there is considerable irony in curtailing debate on the Freedom of Information Bill. The measure will make more—not...

Orders of the Day — Interpretation (27 Nov 2000)

Miss Ann Widdecombe: ...understated a case, but I yield to the considerable expertise of my hon. Friend. However, neither he nor the Government will argue about the fact that more than 453 amendments were tabled to the Freedom of Information Bill in the other place. At Committee stage in the other place, 368 amendments were tabled. More than 150 of those amendments were tabled by the Government. They cannot say...

Orders of the Day — Interpretation (27 Nov 2000)

Miss Ann Widdecombe: ...code—it gave access to information, which he will deny. That is the background to our opposition to the Bill. To the shame of the Liberal Democrats, having made so much of their commitment to freedom of information, they have done a deal with their partner, the Labour party, to ensure that our amendments would not be agreed to in the other place. It is high time the right hon....

Oral Answers to Questions — Police Resources (20 Nov 2000)

Miss Ann Widdecombe: ...brought forward now because it risked alienating the police at a crucial time. Given the right hon. Gentleman's commitment—or, at any rate, his alleged commitment—to open government and freedom of information, will he tell us what this reform is that the police might so dislike?

Orders of the Day — Freedom of Information Bill (7 Dec 1999)

Miss Ann Widdecombe: I beg to move, To leave out from "That" to the end of the Question, and to add instead thereof: this House declines to give a Second Reading to the Freedom of Information Bill because it will result in greater secrecy than is the case under the existing Code of Practice, because it fails to promote open government instead of secrecy or transfer from Ministers and officials to Parliament the...

Orders of the Day — Freedom of Information Bill (7 Dec 1999)

Miss Ann Widdecombe: ...the remit of the parliamentary ombudsman. It is not possible for the ombudsman, who enforces the code, to compel the release of information, but the code remains a clear statement in favour of freedom of information, unlike the Bill, which I hope now to demonstrate represents backwards movement. The Home Secretary and the hon. Member for Warrington, North (Helen Jones) have made much of...

Orders of the Day — Freedom of Information Bill (7 Dec 1999)

Miss Ann Widdecombe: ...the House what other people have said. The National Union of Journalists said that it is deeply concerned at the failings in the Bill. After waiting decades for Labour to make good its promise of freedom of information we find a proposal which in some ways is a backward step". There are several key points on which we shall try to improve the Government's flawed proposals. The Bill...

Orders of the Day — Freedom of Information Bill (7 Dec 1999)

Miss Ann Widdecombe: ...from the Home Secretary's own White Paper. Another fundamental flaw in the Bill is the inherent weakness of the Information Commissioner, who will be set up by the Government supposedly to enforce freedom of information. Under their proposals, the Information Commissioner will not be able to compel disclosure of information where he deems release to be in the public interest. That is the...

Orders of the Day — Freedom of Information Bill (7 Dec 1999)

Miss Ann Widdecombe: ...Time, and I see nods from the people at whom I am not supposed to look. Therefore, I will not be tempted down that route. However, it would be high optimism to the point of folly to assume that any Freedom of Information Bill would improve ministerial answers at Question Time. Perhaps, now—[Interruption.]

Orders of the Day — Freedom of Information Bill (7 Dec 1999)

Miss Ann Widdecombe: ...code was not perfect, and I would have been perfectly happy for it to have been built on a great deal further. The proposals that I have outlined today are simply common sense. If we are to have a Freedom of Information Bill, it must result in more information being released and it must give Parliament a role in ensuring openness. We shall continue along that path in our approach to the...

Orders of the Day — Home Affairs, Education and Employment (23 Nov 1999)

Miss Ann Widdecombe: ...the past year which has been caused by the Government's mismanagement; deplore the Government's proposals to abolish the right to elect trial by jury; believe that the Government's proposals for Freedom of Information will result in greater secrecy; further regret the failure of the Government to reduce the burden of bureaucracy and regulation which places unnecessary restrictions on...

Orders of the Day — Home Affairs, Education and Employment (23 Nov 1999)

Miss Ann Widdecombe: ...their fundamental rights. They want a Government who are ready to tackle crime and back the police. In the Gracious Speech, the Home Secretary and the Government portray themselves as champions of freedom of information, but they have dramatically climbed down from their original proposals of two years ago. Although they say that they are in favour of freedom of information, their...

Orders of the Day — Home Affairs, Education and Employment (23 Nov 1999)

Miss Ann Widdecombe: First, it is not true to say that the Conservative Government did not seek greater freedom of information. We introduced open government measures. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Well, the proof of that will be in the analysis, in which there will be a great deal of interest in the country. If we had built on our open government measures, we would have ended up with far more freedom than we will under...