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Freedom of Information charges ruled out after review Freedom of Information charges ruled out after review
(about 2 hours later)
Ministers have chosen not to introduce fees for Freedom of Information (FOI) requests following a review of the law. Freedom of Information requests - used by campaigners and journalists to ask questions of public bodies - are to remain free of charge, a minister says.
An independent commission was asked to examine it amid concerns within government that "sensitive information" was being inadequately protected. Following a review of the law, Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock said the FoI Act was "working well".
FOI, used by campaigners and journalists to ask questions of public bodies, was "working well", Cabinet Office Minister Matt Hancock said. The FoI Commission was asked to examine it amid concerns within government that "sensitive information" was being inadequately protected.
He said there were new plans to require public bodies to reveal staff expenses. Its report said FoI had helped "change the culture of the public sector".
The full findings of the Freedom of Information Commission's review are due to be published later, but speaking ahead of its release, Mr Hancock said there would be no wholesale changes to the FOI Act. Mr Hancock said there would be no wholesale changes to the FoI Act.
"After 10 years, we took the decision to review the Freedom of Information Act and we have found it is working well," he said."After 10 years, we took the decision to review the Freedom of Information Act and we have found it is working well," he said.
"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. "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.
"After all, taxpayers should know if their money is funding a company car or a big pay-off.""After all, taxpayers should know if their money is funding a company car or a big pay-off."
What does the Freedom of Information Commission do?
How does FOI work?
The government has chosen not to legislate to shore up ministers' powers to veto the release of information.The government has chosen not to legislate to shore up ministers' powers to veto the release of information.
BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins says campaigners, opposition politicians and many journalists regarded the independent review of FOI legislation with deep suspicion, concerned the government wanted to curtail a law that allowed them to reveal embarrassing facts about its failings. What does the Freedom of Information Commission do?
How does FoI work?
The commission said FoI had "enhanced openness and transparency" and concluded that "there is no evidence that the act needs to be radically altered, or that the right of access to information needs to be restricted".
It added: "In some areas, the commission is persuaded that the right of access should be increased."
However, it said parts of the act were unclear and it made recommendations to improve "clarity and certainty".
BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins says campaigners, opposition politicians and many journalists regarded the independent review of FoI legislation with deep suspicion, concerned the government wanted to curtail a law that allowed them to reveal embarrassing facts about its failings.
Some regular users of the law remain anxious about whether it will be easier for institutions to rule that information requests are too burdensome to be met, he says.Some regular users of the law remain anxious about whether it will be easier for institutions to rule that information requests are too burdensome to be met, he says.
But on the other side of this argument, he adds, the cost of providing information will continue to trouble some public bodies with little money and few staff to spare.But on the other side of this argument, he adds, the cost of providing information will continue to trouble some public bodies with little money and few staff to spare.
Blair's regretBlair's regret
The Freedom of Information Act, which was introduced in 2000 under then Prime Minister Tony Blair, allows a public "right of access" to information held by public authorities. The FoI Act, which was introduced in 2000 under then Prime Minister Tony Blair, allows a public "right of access" to information held by public authorities.
It obliges public authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and UK-wide authorities based in Scotland, to publish certain information about their activities, and to respond to requests for information.It obliges public authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and UK-wide authorities based in Scotland, to publish certain information about their activities, and to respond to requests for information.
It has been used to reveal information in a number of high-profile incidents, including the MPs' expenses scandal and Prince Charles's lobbying letters to ministers.It has been used to reveal information in a number of high-profile incidents, including the MPs' expenses scandal and Prince Charles's lobbying letters to ministers.
Mr Blair has described himself as a "naive, foolish, irresponsible nincompoop" for introducing the law, saying: "There is really no description of stupidity, no matter how vivid, that is adequate. I quake at the imbecility of it."Mr Blair has described himself as a "naive, foolish, irresponsible nincompoop" for introducing the law, saying: "There is really no description of stupidity, no matter how vivid, that is adequate. I quake at the imbecility of it."