text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill - Exempt only correspondence - rejected
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  
  The majority of MPs voted against changing the proposed [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmbills/039/07039.i-i.html Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill] (designed to remove Parliament and MPs from the power of the [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/ukpga_20000036_en_1 Freedom of Information Act 2000]) so that the Freedom of Information Act would still apply to Parliament.  
  
  All that would have remained was the exemption regarding MPs' correspondence.  Since this was the official justification for the proposed change in the law (the threat that Freedom of Information laws could be used to obtain sensitive correspondence),[1] this vote tested whether a law leaving in that provision would be acceptable to its proponents.  
  
  (It wasn't, because the real purpose was to hide MPs' expenses.)
  
  This vote was a follow-on from [http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2007-04-20&number=94 ''Division 94'']
  
  Since there was not enough MPs around to close the debate (it requires at least 100 MPs to vote for it)[2] the MPs opposed, even though they were in the minority, were able to carry on talking (without repeating themselves)[3] until the time for the debate ran out.
  
  Friday afternoons (the time for debates on private members bills) have a low attendance.  Initially the debate for this Bill was rescheduled for the following week (27 April 2007), but was pulled from the timetable at the last minute in order to prevent a repetition of the filibuster.[4]  
  
  Accordingly, it was rescheduled for 18 May when a large enough turn-out of MPs could be arranged in order to close the debate.[5]
  
  The first division on that debate is [http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2007-05-18&number=119 ''Division 119''].
  
  * [1] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2007-04-20b.551.3#g616.1 Norman Baker MP], House of Commons, 20 April 2007
  * [2] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmstords/405/40508.htm#a40 Majority for closure], House of Commons Standing Order 37
  * [3] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2007-04-20b.551.3#g619.2 The Speaker], House of Commons, 20 April 2007
  * [4] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2007/apr/27/freedomofinformation.uk MP delays FoI exemption bill], The Guardian, 27 April 2007
   
  
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  