Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Paragraph: 66
The Information Commissioner’s Office plays an important enforcement and advocacy role for Freedom of Information.
Conclusion
The Information Commissioner’s Office plays an important enforcement and advocacy role for Freedom of Information. The Committee notes with concern the financial pressures facing the organisation which are not commensurate with the caseload it faces. The Committee notes the unsatisfactory Machinery of Government split with financial responsibility for the Information Commissioner’s Office’s Freedom of Information budget sitting with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport whilst the policy responsibility for Freedom of Information lies with the Cabinet Office.
Paragraph Reference:
66
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The Government believes it is important that the Information Commissioner’s Office is funded at a sufficient level to enable the Commissioner to carry out his statutory functions. The ICO’s sponsor department within the Government is the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). DCMS works with the Cabinet Office to remain updated on Freedom of Information policy and to discuss budgetary responsibility where appropriate. This governance structure helps to avoid any perception that there is a potential conflict of interest with FOI policy. We would remind the Committee that the Information Commissioner has a number of regulatory and legislative duties including Data Protection.