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Freedom of Information coverage must be modernised says Campaign
DATELINE: 7/8/12
The Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland (CFoIS) has called for the Scottish Parliament to step in and add significant amendments to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act when it discusses a Scottish Government FOI Amendment Bill in the coming months.
Derek Manson-Smith, Co-Convener of the CFoIS said:
"We are submitting our response to the Finance Committee's consultation, asking them to take the opportunity to rectify the growing anomaly in freedom of information. As public service delivery moves away from public authorities to all sorts of trusts, arms-length companies, voluntary groups and private contractors - so people's legal rights to ask for information about these services contract and vanish. The Government or the Committee must step in and maintain those rights. Despite a series of consultations over extending the legislation to cover groups such as those listed by the CFoIS, the Scottish Government dropped their planned extension last November. The consultations and an opinion poll commissioned by the Scottish Information Commissioner showed wide public support for the extension."Carole Ewart, Co-Convener of the Campaign said:
"Given Government principles supporting FoI, and the level of public support for extending coverage to all public service providers, their failure to take such an obvious opportunity to extend that coverage is very damaging to our rights.
The Campaign is also approaching a wide range of Scottish organisations to back their call for the law to be extended to cover private contractors, arms-length organisations, trusts, housing associations and other bodies that increasingly deliver Scotland's public services."Dave Moxham, Deputy General Secretary of the STUC, said they would be supporting the Campaign's call:
"Through the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill, Scottish Government must get to grips with the unacceptable fact that organisations such as ALEOS and housing associations which provide essential services to communities and which spend billions of public money are not currently subject to the same scrutiny as directly delivered services. People's right to know should be dependent on the nature of the information they seek, not who holds it."The Scottish Parliament Finance Committee's consultation at stage one, ends on 8 August. Members of the public are welcome to make their own views known by contacting - finance@scottish.parliament.uk.
The full response from the Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland is available from the Campaign contacts below.
For Further Information please contact:
Carole Ewart (Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland) 07768 794 689. Derek Manson-Smith (Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland)07949 902 643
Last modified: Tuesday, August 7, 2012
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World Press Freedom Day
More reporters are currently imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country in the world. Only a matter of weeks ago lawyers failed to persuade a Turkish court to release a 76-year-old journalist from a Turkish internet news station.
World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
The World Press Freedom Day rally is being staged by the National Union of Journalists at the NUJ head office, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 on Thursday May 2, 6pm-8pm.
DATELINE: 27/4/13
UK launch of EU media campaign
DATELINE: 13/3/13
The UK launch of a 'European Citizens' Initiative' calling for EU rules against concentration of media power will take place on Thursday March 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords, London. Guest speakers will include actor and activist Hugh Grant (pictured), media consultant Claire Enders, Professor Steven Barnett, Barry McCall (President of the NUJ) and Marc Gruber (Director of the European Federation of Journalists).
A European Citizens' Initiative is an official petition, like a Downing Street petition. If it succeeds in gathering a million signatures across the EU, the Commission is obliged to respond.
This petition calls for the EU to act to protect media pluralism and press freedom.
CPBF Annual General Meeting
DATELINE: 1/3/13
Make a note in your diary
Saturday 13 July 2013 from 10.00am
NUJ HQ, 308/312 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1.
Leveson, media ownership, CPBF future work.
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MEDIA MANIFESTO
DATELINE: 26/3/10
The media’s job is to inform and entertain us but we rely on them too to tell us what our rulers and representatives are up to. In the run-up to the Iraq war the government used spin and disinformation in the media to create panic and mislead people. The truth is coming out now, but we need stronger, more independent media to be able to scrutinise governments and make informed choices.
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Previous stories
Free Speech & Censorship
Welcome for select committee's rejection of FOI charges and restrictions on release of policy discussions
Call for register of all lobbyists
MP who took on Rupert Murdoch launches campaign to safeguard Freedom of Information Act
Briefing on the future of the Freedom of Information Act (Note new venue)
DEFAMATION BILL 2011: Consultation by the Joint Parliamentary Committee
Mosley sues Google over sex video access
Welcome for greater online disclosure - but concern that contracting out will encourage secrecy
WikiLeaks: US opens grand jury hearing
Julian Assange to be extradited to Sweden - He will appeal against the extradition ruling
Bail decision welcomed
Assange's release delayed
The arrest of Julian Assange - the work goes on
How the BBC surreptitiously censors callers to phone-ins
Net censorship finds a new expression
Welcome for decision to drop proposed cabinet papers exemption
Stars of UK comedy and science stand up against unfair libel laws
CPBF condemns temporary shutdown for WikiLeaks
Panorama nurse can return to work
Secret filming nurse up for award
Whistleblower Nurse Appeal
Breen judgment a landmark victory for press freedom
An untold story?
Hundreds demonstrate their freedom to photograph
Olympic builders forced to sign gagging orders
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Access to MPs' expenses move criticised
Triumph for journalists' rights as Sally Murrer wins her case
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Journalists facing harassment in China says Greenslade
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