Darling wants less freedom on information
ALISTAIR Darling has called for tighter restrictions on the Freedom of Information Act to protect advice from officials to ministers over MPs' constituency cases at Westminster.
The Trade and Industry Secretary is concerned that the revelation of policy advice could damage good government and reduce frank discussion.
The Edinburgh South West MP has written to Lord Chancellor Falconer arguing that "incremental harm" could result if the Act is not reviewed.
His move has put him at the centre of a major Westminster row as there are already separate bids to limit the scope of the Act, including one to exempt MPs and peers from its provisions over letters about constituents and individual cases.
Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker accused some MPs of simply wanting to hide details of their expenses, which the former Tory Minister behind the move David MacLean denies.
Mr Baker wants Gordon Brown to block new restrictions on Freedom of Information.
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Weather for Edinburgh
Tuesday 22 May 2012
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
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