Foreword by the Chancellor
of the Duchy of Lancaster
Openness is fundamental to the political health of a modern state. This White Paper marks a watershed in the relationship between the government and people of the United Kingdom. At last there is a government ready to trust the people with a legal right to information. This right is central to a mature democracy.
There are matters, such as national security or personal privacy, where information has to be protected. Government itself needs some protection for its internal deliberations. This White Paper strikes a proper balance between extending people's access to official information and preserving confidentiality where disclosure would be against the public interest. It is a new balance with the scales now weighted decisively in favour of openness.
The Government will be publishing a draft Freedom of Information Bill next
year. The Government believes that the proposals outlined in this White Paper will contribute positively to the progressive opening up of the British State.
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