WITH very little fanfare, a new piece of legislation came into force on New Year's Day. For the first time, Britain has a Freedom of Information Act drafted on the presumption that information about public bodies, be they national government, local government, health trusts etc should be completely open about they way they operate.

It is designed to be used by the general public, not just the media, and making a request for information under the Act is relatively simple. Be specific about the nature of the information required and put it in writing to the relevant person seems to be all that's necessary

In the coming months, the Darlington & Stockton Times will be using the Act to look into areas of public governance which might otherwise escape public scrutiny.

Spectator doesn't believe there are necessarily great secrets to be revealed. Our local authorities, with one or two exceptions, have a good record in being frank and open about their affairs.

But we suspect a number have not exactly welcomed the new Act with enthusiasm if for no other reason than the time they believe will be taken up digging out information if there are many requests. Clearly there is a responsibility on the general public and the media not to make frivolous requests.

A quick tour of our local authority web sites proved this to be the case. Despite the internet being touted as a key way for public bodies to make information available to the public and to involve the people they serve in the local authority's work - e-government it's called - most of the sites make only passing reference to the Act.

Information about the Act and the publication schemes - the lists of available information every body has to publish - is there but it has to be searched for. Only one - the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority - has the confidence to have anything about the introduction of the Act on its news pages. The rest keep information about the Act well buried on their sites.

So it's up to us to make use of these new powers. Spectator asks that readers keep him primed with possible avenues to explore in the corridors of power.

Caught in headlights

We could not help but feel a bit sorry for young Matthew Tait, the former Barnard Castle schoolboy due to make his England rugby debut tomorrow afternoon against Wales at the tender age of 18.

He follows in a long line of illustrious former Barney schoolboys who have played rugby for England, but nothing, not even the care of his club manager and Old Banardian Rob Andrew, could prepare him for the media glare. As our picture on the back page this week suggests.