A HOLYROOD committee is “not convinced” Katy Clark’s freedom of information (FOI) reforms will work in practice and has called on the Scottish government to bring forward its own plans.

The standards, procedures & public appointments committee had been examining the Labour MSP’s Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill, tabled last June, which includes proposals for a presumption in favour of disclosure, more information being published proactively and more bodies being brought under FOI laws.

In a report to be published today, committee convener and Labour MSP Martin Whitfield said: “The work done by Katy Clark MSP establishes a clear need to update the law that underpins it. However, our committee is not convinced that this Bill is the right approach in its current form.

“The Scottish government should be taking action to develop an updated and forward-looking FoI regime for Scotland.”

Ms Clark responded: “The outrageous refusal by John Swinney to release the Salmond papers shows that Scotland’s existing FOI laws are not fit for purpose.

“In its report, the committee supports the main thrust of my Bill.

“Critically, it supports scrapping the First Minister’s veto over freedom of information, something that John Swinney has shamefully refused to rule out using to prevent the release of the Salmond papers.

“The SNP has spent almost the entire parliament resisting and obstructing attempts to work across party lines to extend freedom of information laws. John Swinney must do the decent thing and abandon the government’s disastrous approach.”

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “Scotland has the strongest freedom of information law in the UK, and the Scottish government is committed to ensuring FOI works effectively to provide access to information about government and public services in Scotland.”