The government has confirmed that it will go ahead with controversial plans to install computers in local post offices to beat benefit fraud. The £1.5bn plan, initially proposed by the previous government, involves the installation of computer terminals in 19,000 local offices. There were fears that the government would abandon the plan after it went over budget, and rural post offices would lose much of their business and be forced to close. 

The right to information held by public sector bodies will be given to all UK citizens, Home Secretary Jack Straw has told the House of Commons. Mr Straw said the move would benefit patients who wanted to know why they had to wait for treatment, parents who sought information on schools’ selection procedures and citizens concerned with the conduct of police inquiries.