Freedom of Information Act to remain intact following review
An official review of the Freedom of Information Act will leave the service intact despite a desire by government ministers to water down its provisions amidst concern that it had become too expensive and intrusive to run.
Cabinet office minister Matthew Hancock, who instigated the review, found that after a decade in operation the act was working well and that as such there would be ‘no legal changes’ brought forward.
Hancock said: “After 10 years we took the decision to review the Freedom of Information Act and we have found it is working well.
“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.”
Some campaigners have pointed to the wording of the statement ruling out only ‘legal changes’, suggesting that an update to the guidance used for such requests may still be in the works.
Existing rules stipulate that anyone can lodge a FoI requests so long as it does not cost a government department more than £600 or a public body £450 to comply with.