Freedom of Information
All kinds of interesting information keeps tumbling out of the Chilcott Inquiry into the Iraq war.
Previously classified information - including the highly confidential advice given by civil servants to government ministers - is now out in the open, where it belongs.
People can now make up their own minds - based on the evidence and advice that was available to the government at the time - and that's what Freedom of Information is all about.
Some commentators are demanding that even the private notes between Prime Minister Blair and President Bush - should be put into the public domain.
And why not?
After all they were not acting as private citizens - but on behalf of their respective governments.
Yet, while these high affairs of world diplomacy are under the most intense scrutiny - it's worth remembering that South Lanarkshire Council is still trying to keep secret - what its refuse workers and gardeners are paid.
Previously classified information - including the highly confidential advice given by civil servants to government ministers - is now out in the open, where it belongs.
People can now make up their own minds - based on the evidence and advice that was available to the government at the time - and that's what Freedom of Information is all about.
Some commentators are demanding that even the private notes between Prime Minister Blair and President Bush - should be put into the public domain.
And why not?
After all they were not acting as private citizens - but on behalf of their respective governments.
Yet, while these high affairs of world diplomacy are under the most intense scrutiny - it's worth remembering that South Lanarkshire Council is still trying to keep secret - what its refuse workers and gardeners are paid.
