Gordon Brown heralded a shake-up of Britain's secrecy laws today by announcing that the public could be given access to some private companies' documents under the Freedom of Information Act.

In a wide-ranging speech, the Prime Minister launched a review into whether to extend the Act to include private-sector firms "running services for the public sector".

The law currently compels only public companies, such as government departments and agencies, to release documents on request, subject to several conditions.

Although the Prime Minister was not specific, industry sources said today that private companies affected by any new rules could include firms providing public services, such as bus and train routes, and other publicly quoted companies with significant government contracts.

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The Times believes that the firms could include the defence company Qinetiq, the aerospace firm BAE Systems, the construction company Balfour Beatty and Carillion, the support services firm.

"We are today publishing a consultation document to consider whether additional organisations discharging a public function - including, in some instances, private sector companies running services for the public sector - should be brought within the scope of Freedom of Information legislation," he said, in a speech made at the University of Westminster.

Mr Brown also used his speech to announce that he was scrapping plans to make people pay more to get information under the Act, acknowledging that such proposals would have placed "unacceptable barriers" between members of the public and scrutinising companies.

In addition, the Prime Minister announced he was looking at whether to shorten the so-called 30-year rule where, at present, members of the public are only able to request historical Cabinet documents 30 years after the event.

"It is an irony that the information that can be made available on request on current events and current decisions is still withheld as a matter of course for similar events and similar decisions that happened 20 or 25 years ago," he said.

Further proposals announced today by Mr Brown and his Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, included launching a consultation paper examining whether MPs should have the final say on sending troops into war - a move which follows a pledge made by the Prime Minister when he first arrived at No 10.

"It is essential that any new arrangements would not damage morale, hinder us in meeting our international obligations, not inhibit operational flexibility and the need for secrecy and to act in emergencies," Mr Straw told MPs, in a House of Commons statement.

The Justice Secretary published two more consultation documents aimed at examining the way that judges are appointed, and reviewing the ability for people to protest around Parliament without compromising security.

Mr Straw said that he wanted judges to be appointed independently of the political process, and to see if there is "a better way both to uphold the right to protest and manage individual protests appropriately" around the Palace of Westminster. Discussions are continuing on House of Lords reform, he added.

The Justice Secretary added: "I hope and believe the House will agree the matters I’ve raised today go to the heart of exactly where power should lie in our country and how it should be exercised."

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