Examines the relationship between law, political culture and information control, and combines a technical knowledge of English Law, a detailed account of the history of political secrecy in Britain, and an acquaintance with the detail of political and administrative practice.

Introduction - setting the agenda
persistent themes and novel problems
freedom of information - overseas experience
government and information - an historical developmnet
claims and counterclaism
openess as a practice or non-practice
openess, information and the courts
conclusion - how nigh is the end?