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UK secrecy laws to be overhauled UK secrecy laws to be overhauled
(39 minutes 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 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 in modern Britain, Mr Brown also said data protection laws would be reviewed.
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.
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.
Private firms
Mr Brown said: "Freedom of Information can be inconvenient, at times frustrating and indeed embarrassing for governments.
"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.
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.
"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.
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
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.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.
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.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.
'New rules'
He launched a consultation paper which suggests that MPs should have the final say on sending troops to war.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.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.""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.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.There would also be a "more open approach" to the Intelligence and Security Committee with Parliament having a clear role in appointing its members.
National securityNational 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".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.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.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 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.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.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".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.