On the day the House of Lords debates the Freedom of Information Bill, Lord Steyn will call for comprehensive freedom of information to plug the "gap" in the Human Rights Act. Speaking at a conference organised by the human rights group Justice he will say: "Freedom of expression is the lifeblood of democracy. But it is truly meaningful only if there is full and effective freedom of information. A comprehensive Freedom of information Act is the most important piece missing from the jigsaw of our law. Let us hope parliament will supply it."

Lord Steyn, one of the law lords who dissented on the controversial Pinochet ruling, will highlight the problem of the home secretary deciding on periods of detention and release for convicted murderers, heralding an early fault line between politicians and judiciary in a "new legal landscape".

Saying that the Human Rights Act is a constitutional measure that is of "a higher normative status than other rights" he will call for a generous approach to afford citizens full protection. Answering critics of the legislation who predict a flood of litigation, Lord Steyn will say: "Our highly trained and impartial judiciary will approach the more extravagant claims with the scepticism they deserve... In my view the English judiciary is well up to the task."