Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents - Question

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords am 12:14 pm ar 20 Gorffennaf 2021.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Llafur 12:14, 20 Gorffennaf 2021

I send my sympathies to the Minister but that is a very unsatisfactory answer, and I wish he was here in person so I could tell him to his face. Does he agree that, with certain limited exceptions, access to official documents is essential for transparency, good governance and a functioning democracy? A number of countries—Ukraine, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Norway, Sweden and others—have agreed to adopt this convention. Can the Minister give us just one simple reason why the British Government are not doing likewise?