End attack on freedom of information, MPs tell ministers

Ministers must scrap controversial plans aimed at preventing the public obtaining damaging or embarrassing information about the Government and other public bodies, a parliamentary committee says.

Members of the Constitutional Affairs Select Committee are calling on the Government to abandon its "unnecessary, unpopular and undesirable" reforms of the Freedom of Information Act.

Under the proposed changes, an estimated 17,000 requests for information could be refused, saving £5.7m. It will mean that MPs, campaign groups and journalists will have to ration requests, or risk their inquiries being automatically rejected.

The Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, is said to be committed to the changes to reduce the burden of administration on civil servants.

But critics say it is a cynical ploy to neuter the role of the media and opposition MPs in using FOI legislation to uncover uncomfortable material about the Government.

The committee concludes: "There is no objective evidence that any change is necessary. There is clear evidence that the proposed amendments could be open to manipulation and abuse."