Futures Forum: The Freedom of Information Act >>> from watering down ... to extending the FOI Act >>> complete the survey
Futures Forum: The Freedom of Information Act and Local Enterprise Partnerships >>> making public contracts transparent
Futures Forum: The Freedom of Information Act and East Devon >>> "This council spends a large amount of taxpayers' money on FOI requests."
The government has decided to move in the opposite direction:
Freedom of Information: will remain free and give more information | East Devon Watch
Freedom of Information charges ruled out after review
9 hours ago
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Freedom of Information requests - used by campaigners and journalists to ask questions of public bodies - are to remain free of charge, a minister says.
Following a review of the law, Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock said the FoI Act was "working well".
The FoI Commission was asked to examine it amid concerns within government that "sensitive information" was being inadequately protected.
Its report said FoI had helped "change the culture of the public sector".
Mr Hancock said there would be no wholesale changes to the FoI Act.
"After 10 years, we took the decision to review the Freedom of Information Act and we have found it is working well," he said.
"We will not make any legal changes to FoI. We will spread transparency throughout public services, making sure all public bodies routinely publish details of senior pay and perks.
"After all, taxpayers should know if their money is funding a company car or a big pay-off."
The government has chosen not to legislate to shore up ministers' powers to veto the release of information.
Freedom of Information charges ruled out after review - BBC News
Government rules out introduction of fee charging for FOI requests
Tuesday, 01 March 2016 13:21
The Government has ruled out the introduction of up-front fees for freedom of information (FoI) requests over and above the existing circumstances in which a requestor can be charged for disbursement costs.
In a written ministerial statement Cabinet Office Minister Matt Hancock said the Government agreed with the view of the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information, whose final report has been published today (1 March).
Hancock said: “We appreciate that some public authorities are concerned by the burdens imposed on them by the Act and the associated costs.
“However, the introduction of new fees would lead to a reduction in the ability of requesters, especially the media, to make use of the Act. We believe that transparency can help save taxpayers’ money, by driving out waste and inefficiency.”
The Independent Commission’s report contains 21 recommendations, including a proposal to abolish the public interest test extension to the time limit. This would be replaced with a 20-day time limit extension for requests "where the public authority reasonably believes that it will be impracticable to respond to the request on time because of the complexity or volume of the requested information, or the need to consult third parties who may be affected by the release of the requested information".
Local Government Lawyer - Government rules out introduction of fee charging for FOI requests
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Freedom of Information requests - used by campaigners and journalists to ask questions of public bodies - are to remain free of charge, a minister says.
Following a review of the law, Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock said the FoI Act was "working well".
The FoI Commission was asked to examine it amid concerns within government that "sensitive information" was being inadequately protected.
Its report said FoI had helped "change the culture of the public sector".
Mr Hancock said there would be no wholesale changes to the FoI Act.
"After 10 years, we took the decision to review the Freedom of Information Act and we have found it is working well," he said.
"We will not make any legal changes to FoI. We will spread transparency throughout public services, making sure all public bodies routinely publish details of senior pay and perks.
"After all, taxpayers should know if their money is funding a company car or a big pay-off."
The government has chosen not to legislate to shore up ministers' powers to veto the release of information.
Freedom of Information charges ruled out after review - BBC News
Government rules out introduction of fee charging for FOI requests
Tuesday, 01 March 2016 13:21
The Government has ruled out the introduction of up-front fees for freedom of information (FoI) requests over and above the existing circumstances in which a requestor can be charged for disbursement costs.
In a written ministerial statement Cabinet Office Minister Matt Hancock said the Government agreed with the view of the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information, whose final report has been published today (1 March).
Hancock said: “We appreciate that some public authorities are concerned by the burdens imposed on them by the Act and the associated costs.
“However, the introduction of new fees would lead to a reduction in the ability of requesters, especially the media, to make use of the Act. We believe that transparency can help save taxpayers’ money, by driving out waste and inefficiency.”
The Independent Commission’s report contains 21 recommendations, including a proposal to abolish the public interest test extension to the time limit. This would be replaced with a 20-day time limit extension for requests "where the public authority reasonably believes that it will be impracticable to respond to the request on time because of the complexity or volume of the requested information, or the need to consult third parties who may be affected by the release of the requested information".
Local Government Lawyer - Government rules out introduction of fee charging for FOI requests
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