I fully support freedom of information, as does the Government, but after more than a decade in operation it is time that the process is reviewed.
I know that the Government’s aim is to be as open and transparent as possible on the substance of information and has established an independent, cross-party Commission to review the Freedom of Information Act and to make sure it is functioning as intended.
The Commission will consider whether there is an appropriate public interest balance between transparency, accountability and the need for sensitive information to have robust protection, and whether the operation of the Act adequately recognises the need for a private space for policy development, implementation and frank advice.
Receiving over 30,000 submissions, The Commission also held two oral evidence sessions in January and now that these sessions have been held, I look forward to the Commission’s conclusion and the Government’s response in due course.
I am encouraged that my colleagues in Government are strengthening accountability and making public services work better for people and you may also be interested to know that the World Wide Web Foundation’s Open Data Barometer and Open Knowledge’s Global Open Data Index ranked the UK as the world’s leading country on open government.
29.1.16
