text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill - Constituent letters
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  
  
  
  <p>The majority voted to keep the <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmbills/039/07039.i-i.html#NewClause">proposal</a> to exempt <i>all</i> correspondence between an MP and a public body from disclosure under the <a href="http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00036--p.htm#sch1">Freedom of Information Act 2000</a>, and prevented it from being weakened so as to target only communications that relate to the personal affairs of a constituent of an MP.</p>
  
  <p>This was to test whether the stated reason[1] for the change in the law was to protect sensitive information of a private member of the public, or whether this was cover for a broader exemption than that.</p>
  
  <p>When a question was raised about the subsequent lack of progress of this Bill through the House of Lords,[2] the Leader of the House correctly pointed out that correspondence relating to constituents was already exempt from disclosure.</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>[1] <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1809563.ece">MPs make themselves exempt from FOI</a> 18 May 2007, The Times.</li>
  <li>[2] <a href="http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2007-06-14a.865.0">Business of the House</a>, Martin Salter MP (14 June 2007)</li>
  </ul>
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  