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UK secrecy laws to be overhauled UK secrecy laws facing shake-up
(about 2 hours later)
Britain's secrecy and data protection laws face a shake-up under plans put forward by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.Britain's secrecy and data protection laws face a shake-up under plans put forward by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Freedom of Information laws could be extended to cover some private firms and planned increases in the cost of making such requests have been axed.Freedom of Information laws could be extended to cover some private firms and planned increases in the cost of making such requests have been axed.
Mr Brown has also appointed Daily Mail chief Paul Dacre to review the 30-year rule on releasing secret papers.Mr Brown has also appointed Daily Mail chief Paul Dacre to review the 30-year rule on releasing secret papers.
In a speech on liberty in modern Britain, Mr Brown also said data protection laws would be reviewed. In a speech on liberty, he also set out plans for a Bill of Rights and Duties and a possible written constitution.
The review will be carried out by Information Commissioner Richard Thomas, who will also look seek to protect legitimate investigative journalists from a planned crackdown on the trade in personal data, such as bills and health records. He said he wanted to protect traditional British liberties in an age of "terrorism and security, the internet and modern technology" and build on the constitutional changes he first announced in July, within weeks of arriving at Number 10.
A three month public consultation has been launched on extending the scope of the Freedom of Information Act, which allows the public to request confidential information from public bodies. "I believe that by applying our enduring ideals to new challenges we can start immediately to make changes to our constitution and laws to safeguard and extend the liberties of our citizens," said Mr Brown.
Private firmsPrivate firms
Mr Brown announced a review of protest laws in Parliament Square to ensure "people's right to protest outside the very heart of our democracy - the House of Commons - is not subject to unnecessary restrictions".
A three month public consultation has also been launched on extending the scope of the Freedom of Information Act, which allows the public to request confidential information from public bodies.
Mr Brown said: "Freedom of Information can be inconvenient, at times frustrating and indeed embarrassing for governments.Mr Brown said: "Freedom of Information can be inconvenient, at times frustrating and indeed embarrassing for governments.
KEY POINTS Review of data protection laws30-year-rule could be scrappedParliament Square protest ban reviewedNo increase in Freedom of Information (FOI) request feesFOI could be extended to some private firmsGovernment to publish National Security StrategyNew rules on authorities' power to enter homes Referendum 'inevitable' Protest laws 'reviewed'
"But Freedom of Information is the right course because government belongs to the people, not the politicians.""But Freedom of Information is the right course because government belongs to the people, not the politicians."
In future, it could cover private firms carrying out work in the public sector, such as security companies running prisons.In future, it could cover private firms carrying out work in the public sector, such as security companies running prisons.
Mr Brown also announced a review of the 30-year rule, saying that FOI meant it was now often possible to get recent documents than those from the past. Mr Brown also announced a review of the 30-year rule, saying that FOI meant it was now often possible to gain access to recent documents more easily than those from the past.
"It is time to look again at whether historical records can be made available for public inspection much more swiftly than under the current arrangements," said the prime minister."It is time to look again at whether historical records can be made available for public inspection much more swiftly than under the current arrangements," said the prime minister.
Private sector
Mr Dacre, editor-in-chief of Daily Mail and Evening Standard owner Associated Newspapers, former top civil servant Sir Joe Pilling and historian David Cannadine would review the rules.Mr Dacre, editor-in-chief of Daily Mail and Evening Standard owner Associated Newspapers, former top civil servant Sir Joe Pilling and historian David Cannadine would review the rules.
Protests Brown's speech looks like a desperate attempt to resurrect his 'new politics' which has already been discredited by his serial use of spin Nick Herbert, shadow justice secretary
He said plans to restrict media reporting of coroners' court proceedings would also be scrapped.
Mr Brown also praised the work of Information Commissioner Richard Thomas who is to launch a review of the way personal data is shared in the public and private sector.
Mr Thomas will also move to protect legitimate investigative journalists from a planned crackdown on the trade in personal data, such as bills and health records, said Mr Brown.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Jack Straw set out further details of proposals to reform Britain's constitution.Earlier, Justice Secretary Jack Straw set out further details of proposals to reform Britain's constitution.
Plans include giving MPs the final say over going to war, changes to the way judges are appointed, and a review of the ban on protests near Parliament. Lords reform
In a Commons statement, Mr Straw set out the next steps for constitutional changes first announced in July by Gordon Brown within weeks of his arrival at Number 10. He launched consultation papers on giving MPs the final say on sending troops to war, changes to the way judges are appointed and restrictions on protests near Parliament.
He launched a consultation paper which suggests that MPs should have the final say on sending troops to war.
He told MPs: "It suggests that this might be through a convention, through legislation or by a combination of both. "The consultation paper discusses the critical issues which any system would have to accommodate.
"It is essential that any new arrangements would not damage morale, hinder us in meeting our international obligations, not inhibit operational flexibility and the need for secrecy and to act in emergencies."
A second consultation paper contains plans to change the way judges are appointed and a third is a review of restrictions on protests near Parliament.
Mr Straw said the government would also publish an annual national security strategy and pledged "new rules" to open up the work of the security services.Mr Straw said the government would also publish an annual national security strategy and pledged "new rules" to open up the work of the security services.
There would also be a "more open approach" to the Intelligence and Security Committee with Parliament having a clear role in appointing its members. He also proposed to strengthen Parliament's role by putting the MPs' right to ratify international treaties on a statutory footing.
National security
Mr Straw said there would be a wide-ranging review by the information commissioner and others of the "way we share and protect personal information".
He said the government would also scrap plans to restrict media reporting of coroners' court proceedings.
The justice secretary also announced moves to ban payments by journalists to criminals and a review of powers of entry by police and public bodies.
He said there were concerns about the misuse of personal data and new rules in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill had raised concerns that they might "impede legitimate investigative journalism".
He proposed to strengthen Parliament's role by putting the MPs' right to ratify international treaties on a statutory footing.
The system of appointing judges must be made "wholly devoid of party politics", transparent and accountable, said Mr Straw.
Restrictions on protests in Parliament Square would be reviewed to see if "there is a better way both to uphold the right to protest and manage individual protests appropriately".
He also signalled changes in the governance of the Government's spending watchdog, the National Audit Office.He also signalled changes in the governance of the Government's spending watchdog, the National Audit Office.
On House of Lords reform, he said all-party discussions were continuing, but there were no new proposals announced.On House of Lords reform, he said all-party discussions were continuing, but there were no new proposals announced.
"I hope and believe the House will agree the matters I've raised today go to the heart of exactly where power should lie in our country and how it should be exercised," Mr Straw told MPs."I hope and believe the House will agree the matters I've raised today go to the heart of exactly where power should lie in our country and how it should be exercised," Mr Straw told MPs.
Brown 'spin'
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert described the government's plans as a "recipe for a legal muddle" and accused minister of giving away key liberties through the Human Rights Act.
"Brown's speech looks like a desperate attempt to resurrect his 'new politics' which has already been discredited by his serial use of spin," said Mr Herbert.
The Conservatives want the Human Rights Act should be scrapped in favour of British Bill of Rights.
Lib Dem justice spokesman David Heath said: "One of the main threats to civil liberties over the last decade has been the behaviour of an increasingly overbearing Labour government that has transformed Britain into a surveillance state.
"If Gordon Brown is genuinely signalling a change of heart then that is good news, but authoritarianism seems to run deep in the lifeblood of this government.
"Jack Straw's statement to Parliament had much to welcome, but it is largely undoing the government's position of only a few months ago."