Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill

Let me make a final point before taking any interventions. We must make decisions about the sanctity of our correspondence on behalf of constituents with public authorities. We have to be able to look constituents in the eye when they come to us about tax credit cases, Child Support Agency cases or their dealings with the police or the council. We must be able to say to them, ““I will take up that case on your behalf and pass on your letter or write on your behalf and I guarantee that that will not be released.”” We cannot at present give that guarantee. The procedures in place allow someone else to make that judgment. If they make an erroneous judgment, that damages us. I shall now give way to the hon. Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart).