Public access to information legislation was awarded $200,000 in yesterday's Budget.

Suggesting PATI laws are on the way to Bermuda, the cash has been allocated to the Cabinet Office, which could be asked to approve proposals for the legislation within weeks.

It comes as good news for The Royal Gazette's A Right To Know: Giving People Power campaign, which has been calling for PATI in a series of articles over the past month.

At yesterday's post-Budget press conference, Premier Dr. Ewart Brown said PATI had always been on the way and Government had supported the public's right to know long before other people started talking about it.

When Finance Minister Paula Cox was asked about the inclusion of PATI in her Budget statement, the Premier rose to his feet and took the microphone himself.

"It was always intended to be there," said Dr. Brown. "This Government has never wavered on the issue. It's never been derailed or delayed or deferred."

The Premier — who has refused to comment on PATI since this newspaper launched its campaign — was then asked whether the law would definitely happen.

He replied: "It will definitely happen — as will a press council."

Plans for a press council attracted criticism when they were announced in the Throne Speech earlier this month, with some saying Government should lead by example by improving its own accountability and transparency.

Yesterday, Dr. Brown allayed fears that the press council could lead to control of the media.

"The press council will essentially be in the hands of the media," he said. "It's not the Government's intention to run the press council or have an undue influence in the press council."

He refused to give a time scale for PATI.

Freedom of information has for years been a key aim of the Progressive Labour Party, which swept to power in the historic 1998 General Election after criticising the lack of accountability of then Government United Bermuda Party.

In 2005, then Premier Alex Scott released a PATI discussion paper and proposed as much information as possible be made accessible to the public.

Weeks before he was replaced by Dr. Brown as Premier, Mr. Scott pledged to put a PATI law in place in 2007.

However, that never happened — and the bill was neither mentioned in last December's election manifesto nor this month's Throne Speech.

Shortly before the election, Dr. Brown told this newspaper PATI would be "kept in play" but until yesterday's press conference he has refused to comment further despite many requests.

Government's Central Policy Unit has said drafting instructions for a PATI bill could be placed before Cabinet within weeks. If the instructions win Ministers' backing, a bill will be drafted by the Attorney General's Chambers. To become lawthe bill would need to go before the House of Assembly and the Senate for approval.