Government Vetoes Information Tribunal Public Interest Ruling

For the first time since the Freedom of Information Act (the ''Act'') came into force in 2005, Government ministers have taken the decision to use a ministerial right to veto a public interest ruling made by the Information Tribunal.

Instead of opting to appeal the decision of the Tribunal in the High Court (and possibly lose again), Justice Secretary Jack Straw, with the approval of the Cabinet, decided to use the power to overrule a decision made by the Information Tribunal which had ordered the release of minutes of cabinet meetings which took place in the lead up to the Iraq war in 2003. Under normal circumstances minutes would not be released until 30 years after the meeting took place; however, the Information Commissioner had decided that there were 'exceptional circumstances' and that it was in the public interest that the information should be released now for public scrutiny. The Commissioner's decision was backed up by the Tribunal on appeal.