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Richard Shepherd MP (Conservative) MP for Aldridge-Brownhills. Parliamentary co-chair of the Campaign for Freedom of Information.

[edit] Freedom of Information

Introduced a Private Member's Bill in 1997, called the Public Interest Disclosure Bill (The Whistleblowers' Bill), and won an award from the Campaign for Freedom of Information in 1998 for his work. Very much against the proposed changes to the Freedom of Information Act.

In a column he wrote about the changes to the Freedom of Information Act Right to know – an embarrassing success 27 December 2006

The Government has had enough of freedom of information. Only two years after bringing the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act fully into force, Ministers have decided to severely cut back the right to know.

What the government really hopes to save is not cash, but embarrassment.

Signed Early Day Motion 845 Freedom of Information 06 Febuary 2007

That this House expresses concern that the proposed new fees regulations under the Freedom of Information Act would allow authorities to refuse on cost grounds a high proportion of requests which they are currently required to answer; notes that the Government's consultation document recognises that this will have a greater impact on journalists, hon. Members, campaign groups and researchers than on private individuals; considers that such changes would undermine the Act's contribution to increased discussion of public affairs, accountability and trust in the work of public authorities; and calls on the Government not to proceed with the proposals.

Signed Early Day Motion 2699 Freedom of Information 10 December 2006

That this House welcomes the finding of the Constitutional Affairs Committee (HC991) that the Freedom of Information Act has `already brought about the release of significant new information and....this information is being used in a constructive and positive way' and the committee's conclusion that it sees `no need to change' the Act's charging arrangements; views with concern reports that the Government is considering changing these arrangements to permit an application fee to be charged for all requests or to allow authorities to refuse, on cost grounds, a significant proportion of requests which they currently must answer; and considers that such changes could undermine the Act's benefits of increased openness, accountability and trust in the work of public authorities.

[edit] Links

[edit] News

2006-12-27 - Yorkshire Post Today - Right to know – an embarrassing success

Author: Richard Shepherd MP

Summary: The Government has had enough of freedom of information. Only two years after bringing the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act fully into force, Ministers have decided to severely cut back the right to know.