The main reason for the rush to get this legislation through – and what has triggered the urgency and panic on the part of the Government and the public service – is the date of 21 April 2003. Under the 1997 legislation, Cabinet memoranda and documents dating from 21 April 1998 are due for release. The attempt to extend the period raises the question of whether information contained in these Government memoranda and papers is so damaging or explosive that it must be locked up and kept away from public scrutiny for another five years.