Media roundup

Western Mail - Minister accused of hypocrisy in mine row
"Documents released to Plaid Cymru under the Freedom of Information Act show that former Energy Minister Mike O'Brien wrote a letter to First Minister Rhodri Morgan in support of a 998-acre opencast mine at Ffos-y-fran, near Merthyr Tydfil."

Wales on Sunday - Spun-believable!
"Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show how much the Assembly, councils and quangos are splashing out on PR experts."

Guardian - Gonzales Urged to Rescind FOIA Rules (US)
"WASHINGTON (AP) - The Associated Press and other news organizations are encouraging Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to rescind a policy restricting public access to government information. "

Yorkshire Today - Developers face dilemma over access to documents
"developers face the risk of having their deals viewed by competitors when they send documentation to local authorities.'The new Act means that developers can obtain information about competitor's deals and vice versa, which potentially would work in the developers' favour when seeking information, but would work very much against them when pitching for new business,' he said."

Reading Chronicle -Campaigners furious over village rubbish tip
"PADWORTH campaigners furious over plans for a giant rubbish tip in their village are challenging West Berkshire Council's decision to put it so near their homes....But despite continuous requests to reveal the existence of alternative plans for the site, villagers accuse the council of refusing to come clean."

Guardian -The night Yogi and Boo-Boo helped Semolina Pilchard snare a Beatle
"A confidential Scotland Yard file, which was released at the National Archives to the Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act, shows that Pilcher came under strong pressure from the then home secretary, James Callaghan, after the raid on the Marylebone flat."

Guardian - World Bank rebuked over water deal
"Documents obtained under Delhi's freedom of information act show the bank intervened to the benefit of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which had failed to make the grade when the Delhi government put out the tender in 1998."

Guardian - MPs call for transparency in Olympic venue deals
"The emergence of the deal, in papers released to Building Design magazine under the Freedom of Information Act, sparked calls for parliamentary scrutiny of all deals related to the Olympics."