Calls by UK MPs for freedom of information legislation to be introduced in all the British Overseas Territories should spur Bermuda into action, according to former Premier Alex Scott.

A newly published report from the UK Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) urges the British Government to "strongly encourage" all territories to bring in FOI, known here as public access to information (PATI).

Mr. Scott told The Royal Gazette he was delighted to see the committee's recommendation — and said Bermuda should act "judiciously and swiftly" to stay ahead of the pack.

"It would appear that an initiative that I started here has made its mark not only here in Bermuda... but it is also worthy of the Foreign Office requiring the other remaining territories to do the same," he said.

"This now should double the commitment of our local Government to follow through because it means that either we continue to be in a leadership role by staying true to the idea or we'll find ourselves trailing the rest of the territories in putting into place something that we were ahead of everybody else on.

"That could happen if we don't act judiciously and swiftly. Obviously I think it's an idea that is long overdue."

PATI has been on the cards in Bermuda since Mr. Scott promised it in the 2003 Throne Speech — but five years later a draft bill has yet to be approved by Cabinet or put before MPs.

This newspaper's A Right To Know: Giving People Power campaign calls for the legislation to be tabled this year.

Premier Ewart Brown says our campaign is one without opposition but refuses to give a timeline for action.

Mr. Scott revealed that the Progressive Labour Party caucus is due to discuss the subject in the near future.

"Without going into details, it has been officially put before us," he said. "It probably doesn't do harm for me to say it is scheduled for discussion."

The 171-page FAC report — which singles out Bermuda as needing to strengthen its transparency measures and stop holding parliamentary committee meetings in secret — has been submitted to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which will issue a formal response.

Dr. Brown's press secretary said he was unavailable to comment on the FAC recommendations due to a personal matter.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "The report of the FAC is a report to the British Government and in advance of their consideration of and response to the issues it raises any comment would be premature.

"The Government's commitment to and position on PATI is unchanged."

Opposition MP Grant Gibbons, a former chairman of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC), said he was pleased to see the FAC's recommendations but couldn't understand why parliamentary committees hadn't already been opened up or PATI introduced.

He and party leader Kim Swan were among Opposition members who met with three British MPs from the FAC when they visited the Island earlier this year

"It was one of the issues that we discussed when they were here," said Dr. Gibbons. "To have the recommendation is a very positive thing."

He pointed out that the PAC itself had voted unanimously several years ago to open its doors — but nothing happened.

It is up to Government," he said. "They are the ones that have the power and the ability to move forward on that.

"The Opposition will certainly continue to press for it. It remains to be seen whether Government brings Bermuda up to good practice when it comes to first world jurisdictions."