Hands off the Freedom of Information Act!

Since the introduction of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act on 1 January 2005, UK citizens have had unprecedented access to government documents that are unlikely to have seen the light of day otherwise.

But last year two threats to FOI emerged. Despite overwhelming evidence of the value of FOI, the government has launched a drive to water it down. Last October the government announced proposals to make it easier for public authorities to refuse FOI requests on cost grounds. These proposals would severely restrict the amount of information that could be obtained under the act.

At the moment, a FOI request can be refused if the cost of dealing with it exceeds £600 for a government department or £450 for any other public authority. In calculating whether these limits have been reached authorities can take into account the costs of searching for and extracting the requested information.

The government is proposing two substantial changes to these rules. Firstly, authorities would be able to include the cost of the time spent reading the information, consulting others about it and deciding whether it should be released. The government is also proposing that the cost of unrelated requests made by the same individual or organisation to an authority could be refused if their combined cost exceeded the £450 or £600 limits.

The Campaign for Freedom of Information believes these changes could severely ration the use of the act by the media, campaigning organisations and others. ‘Requests that are complex, sensitive or raise important public interest issues are likely be refused on cost grounds under these proposals, regardless of their merits,’ it adds.

Recent reports suggest that Gordon Brown is rethinking this proposal. A second round of consultation on the proposal closes on 21 June – just before Mr Brown becomes prime minister.

But other threats to FOI remain. David Maclean’s private members bill seeking to exempt MPs correspondence is due for its second reading in the Lords on 21 June. And a leaked letter from trade and industry secretary Alistair Darling raises the possibility that the ministerial veto may be used or that the FOI Act might be amended to provide greater protection for government deliberations.

Consultation on the proposed changes to fees ends on 21 June. To oppose these changes you can make a submission to the consultation or ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 845 on FOI. You can contact your MP at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA or via http://www.theyworkforyou.com

For more news and information on Freedom of Infomation visit the Campaign for Freedom of Infomation’s website.