Media update

Daily Telegraph - MPS' expenses rise again to £80m
"Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that MPs claimed more than £80 million in allowances and expenses last year - a rise of over £23 million in just three years."

FT.com - Controversy grows over fate of Iraq detainees
"This week the American Civil Liberties Union released details of autopsy and death reports it obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. It said 21 of 44 deaths were listed as homicides and confirmed that US interrogations had resulted in deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. Anthony Romero, director of the ACLU, said: "High-ranking officials who knew about the torture and sat on their hands and those who created and endorsed these policies must be held accountable. America must stop putting its head in the sand and deal with the torture scandal that has rocked our military."

North Wales - I'll force police to publish full probe into Deepcut
"AN MP last night vowed to use new freedom laws to compel a police force to publish an inquiry into a North Wales army recruit's death. Mid Wales MP Lembit Opik (left) said he planned to make the Freedom of Information Act bid because he was "sick and tired" of Surrey Police's "secrecy"."

BBC news - UK EU presidency: It isn't all over
"Documents about the negotiations on the British rebate agreement in 1984 and released to the BBC News website under the Freedom of Information Act shows that having the presidency does count."

E-Health - Loophole could force release of deceased's records
"A loophole in the Data Protection Act means GPs could be forced to disclose the records of deceased patients, GP representatives are warning. The British Medical Association’s General Practitioner Committee reported after its monthly meeting last week that there are problems with how the Data Protection Act applies to deceased patients which means their records may fall within the categories of information that have to be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act in England. The GPC says the Department of Constitutional Affairs is working with the Information Commissioner to investigate ways in which exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act may be used to prevent disclosure of deceased patients’ records. The GPC says it hopes guidelines will be produced in the near future."