Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Paragraph: 58
The Cabinet Office should drive a cultural shift from mere baseline compliance with the Freedom...
Recommendation
The Cabinet Office should drive a cultural shift from mere baseline compliance with the Freedom of Information Act to a greater advocacy for the core principles and tenets of the Act through proactive leadership across Government including examining whether there is best practice to learn from international comparisons. The Committee expects to see stronger tone on the benefits to good government from Freedom of Information, and greater demonstrable action on steps taken to improve outcomes for Freedom of Information applicants. The Government should, for example, drive stronger timeliness by responding to reviews within the 20 days suggested by the Information 26 The Cabinet Office Freedom of Information Clearing House Commissioners Office.
Paragraph Reference:
58
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
This Government is fully committed to transparency. In 2021, monitored government departments and their agencies responded to over 49,000 FOI requests. We routinely disclose information well beyond our FOI obligations, and release more proactive publications than ever before. Since 2010, the Government has been at the forefront of opening up data to allow Parliament, the public and the media to hold public bodies to account. Despite the need to reprioritise resources to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, central government departments continued to publish core transparency data. Such online transparency is crucial to delivering value for money, cutting waste and inefficiency, and ensuring every pound of taxpayers’ money is spent in the best possible way. Following the Declaration on Government Reform,3 the Government will continue to look at how the range of information published can be improved and made as useful as possible to the public, press and Parliament. Under section 45 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the Act”), the Minister for the Cabinet Office issues a Code of Practice which provides guidance for public authorities on best practice in meeting their responsibilities under Part I (Access to Information held by Public Authorities) of the Act. It sets the standard for all public authorities when considering how to respond to FOI requests and Chapter 5 specifically refers to the expectations regarding internal reviews. The Information Commissioner has a statutory duty to promote good practice by public authorities, including following this Code of Practice. In addition to this Code of Practice, public authorities should also consult the Commissioner’s own guidance regarding best practice which can be found at www.ico. org.uk.