A question about public access to information in Bermuda has been raised in the United Kingdom Parliament.

Catherine West, Shadow Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, asked James Duddridge, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he had made of the “effectiveness of freedom of information requirements in Bermuda” and what plans he had to promote transparency here.

Mr Duddridge told the House of Commons that freedom of information policy was the responsibility of the Government of Bermuda.

He said the Public Access to Information Act 2010 had been enacted, adding: “It is similar in many respects to the UK’s Freedom of Information Act and provides for an information commissioner.

“The Governor believes that it has started well but the first appeals under the Act’s provisions are only now coming before the commissioner.

“Future developments in this area are a matter for the Government of Bermuda.”

Mr Duddridge added during the exchange on February 22 that legislation had been tabled in the House of Assembly to protect personal data, similar to the UK’s Data Protection Act, which would meet European Union data protection requirements.

“The [Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s] 2012 White Paper states our commitments on working with the governments of the Overseas Territories on improving transparency and accountability,” he said.

“We are supporting these governments in moving towards systems of open government through sharing best practice and capacity building.

“This is a devolved area of competence and it is for territory governments to develop a system that meets their particular requirements and circumstances.”

Labour frontbencher Ms West has departmental responsibility for the Overseas Territories within her shadow brief.

Her press secretary Matthew Whitty told The Royal Gazette the main areas of interest regarding the territories were derived largely from the agenda of the Joint Ministerial Council in late 2015 and included securing a central financial register and ensuring there were systems of freedom of information in place in the OTs.

“Catherine feels that assisting the Overseas Territories in improving transparency should be a priority for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in addition to pursuing other key economic/security-related priorities discussed at the JMC.”