'Give public access to private firm data'

The Campaign for Freedom of Information Scotland pleaded with an "unwilling" SNP cabinet to back a major law change that would compel ministers to routinely expand the list of bodies subject to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.

The FOI Act allows any person to request information about a public body's finances, policy or activities.

But the campaign's co-convenor Carole Ewart said today the Act had failed to keep up with soft-shoe privatisation.

Despite Audit Scotland estimates of around 130 different organisations delivering public services, no Scottish government had added even a single named organisation to the Act since the law came into force in 2002.

Scottish Labour's Elaine Murray's latest amendment to the Bill would expand the Act to cover any public contract worth more than £1m.

Ministers would also have to file annual reports detailing any additions to the list - and if not, why not.

Ms Ewert said it was inexcusable that Scotland's government had appeared "unable or unwilling" to defend the public interest.

"It is very concerning that they seem oblivious to the threats these pose to everyone's right to know about how our cash is spent," she said.

The campaign's broadside echoes similar criticisms from Scotland's new information commissioner Rosemary Agnew in September.

MSPs are to debate the Bill at its third and final reading on Wednesday.