Freedom of Information Act 2000

Lord Maxton Excerpts

Thursday 15th March 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord McNally]

My Lords, when this House and the other place considered the original Act, they specifically made applications applicant and motive-blind, and for very good reason. We believe that it benefits the public by providing access to information in the public interest, without targeting specific individuals who are asking those questions. The Ministry of Justice publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the volume, timeliness and outcome of information, but I would still be reluctant to move from the principle of it being applicant and motive-blind.

[Lord Maxton]

My Lords, given that the BBC is an entirely publicly funded body and a very important part of our democratic system, and that it quite rightly suggests that we should all be accountable publicly and openly, is it not right that all aspects of the BBC should now be covered by the Freedom of Information Act?

[Lord McNally]

That is an interesting prospect, which I suspect Sir Alan Beith may well look into.