Law in Action - 20/10/2009

When the Freedom of Information Act was finally born on New Year's Day 2005, it was supposed to usher in a new age of governmental openness and transparency. The inner workings of all public bodies, from the Prime Minister's office to your local council, would now be required by law to disclose information held by them to anyone who asked. But has freedom of information actually made us less trustful of government? And what sort of things do we know now, thanks to the law, which we didn't before? Clive Coleman examines the impact of the powerful Freedom of Information Act. Guests on the programme include: Professor Robert Hazell - Director of the Constitution Unit, University College London Maurice Frankel - Director of the Campaign for Freedom of Information Lord Falconer - Labour Minister responsible for piloting the Freedom of Information Act through the Lords. Christopher Graham - UK Information Commissioner.