Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill

Let me then summarise the points in regard to the relative consequence of the amendments to the legislation as a whole. I have not added up the total number of bodies involved, but there are two education authorities in England and Wales, and three in Northern Ireland. There are three police authorities in England and Wales, two in Northern Ireland, and three others. There are 371 other public authorities in England and Wales and 85 in Northern Ireland. The point that the hon. Member for Walsall, North made earlier was that it would be totally indefensible if we said to the public, ““All those hundreds of other bodies must be governed by this law, but we will not be.?