One more veto and it's time for court

THE warning yesterday by Christopher Graham, the Information Commissioner, that he stands ready to challenge ministers in the courts if the use of the veto over the release of government papers becomes routine is timely.

Mr Graham fired his warning shot over the ministerial bows after ruling out taking action to force the publication of minutes which relate to the fierce debates which raged inside the Labour government over devolution in the early months of Labour rule in 1997. It is a pity that the commissioner has backed away from immediate action, for it is clear that, in exercising the veto Justice Secretary Jack Straw's claim that disclosure would put collective ministerial responsibility at risk is disingenuous.

This newspaper reported at the time that Mr Straw, as Home Secretary, vociferously opposed giving the Scottish Parliament the range of powers which the Donald Dewar, as Secretary of State for Scotland, was proposing, and it is hard not to see his veto in that light.

No-one would argue that sensitive Cabinet discussions should remain confidential and Mr Straw's intervention last year to prevent the release of minutes relating to the Iraq war may have been justified on national security grounds.

However, there should be a presumption that information is released, as it is in the public interest for government to be as transparent as possible. Should there be a further veto, the commissioner should not hesitate to challenge the government in the courts.