The Government fully supports freedom of information, but the process has been in operation now for a decade and should be reviewed.
The aim is to maintain an open and transparent system, consistent with ensuring that a private space is protected when needed. To that end, the Government must uphold the best environment for policy-makers and civil servants to think freely and offer their opinions to decision-makers, including ministers.
The Government has established an independent, cross-party Commission to review the Act and to make sure it is functioning as intended. It 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 an area for policy development, implementation and straightforward advice. The Commission received over 30,000 submissions and decided to hold two oral evidence sessions in January 2016. The Commission will now report as soon as possible after these sessions.
This Government is strengthening accountability and making public services work better for people. Britain is currently ranked as the world’s leading country on open government according to The World Wide Web Foundation’s Open Data Barometer and Open Knowledge’s Global Open Data Index.
By Patrick McLoughlin on February 09, 2016