<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Parlamentares britânicos estão debatendo uma proposta para tentar se isentar dos efeitos da legislação sobre direito de acesso a informações públicas. A intenção é impedir que as correspondências trocadas entre os parlamentares e entre eles e instituições públicas não sejam mais públicas. Em países como a Inglaterra, com leis de acesso a informações públicas, as correspondências de agentes públicos devem ser abertas depois de um determinado período de tempo.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Leia a íntegra da notícia, publicada pela Associated Press (AP) no dia 20:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">British lawmakers debate exempting themselves from freedom of information law<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">(AP) – <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">LONDON</st1:place></st1:City> - British lawmakers were debating a proposal Friday to change freedom of information legislation to exempt one group from scrutiny - themselves.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">The Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill, introduced by Conservative Party lawmaker David Maclean, proposes exempting Parliamentary correspondence, as well as communications between lawmakers and public bodies, from freedom of information rules.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Maclean said the change was needed to protect legislators' correspondence with constituents from disclosure. Opponents argue the change could prevent citizens from finding out information about parliamentarians' expenses.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Liberal Democrat lawmaker Norman Baker said it was "utter hypocrisy" for legislators who had passed the Freedom of Information Act to exempt themselves from it.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">"Freedom of Information is vital to a modern, democratic society," he said, accusing some of his colleagues of wanting "to return to the dark ages."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">The government said it had no position on Maclean's bill. Opponents will try to block it Friday by prolonging the debate until time expires. Maclean will try to muster 100 lawmakers to force a vote on sending it to Parliament's upper chamber, the House of Lords.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">The Freedom of Information Act, which came into force in 2005, requires public authorities to reveal information to the public on request. Requests can be refused for a variety of reasons, including national security.</SPAN></P>