Letter to say more organisations should be covered by the Act: Difference between revisions

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==Text of letter==
==Text of letter==


Dear Editor,
Sir,
 
We welcome the recent statements by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Justice Minister Michael Wills confirming the Government's intention to extend the scope of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). There is an increasing demand for organisations in receipt of public funding, or with a public role, to operate to the highest standards of transparency and openness. However many organisations with substantial public responsibilities are not currently subject to the UK's freedom of information laws. We find it extraordinary that private prisons, most housing associations, the monarchy and the organising committee for the London Olympics are all beyond the current reach of the act.


We welcome the recent comments from Michael Wills (Minister of State for the Ministry of Justice) recent comments “there is going to be an extension of FOI".  Following the MPs' expenses scandal there is great public support for transparency for all public bodies and private bodies in receipt of public funding.


Now is the Government to show it it is genuinely committed to freedom of information and transparency by adding more organisations with public responsibilities to the Act.  Members of the public will find many of the omissions from the Act to be illogical, unfair and unjustifiable.  There are a large number of bodies which need to added to the Act more than we can cover in one letter but we will highlight certain examples.
Now is the Government to show it it is genuinely committed to freedom of information and transparency by adding more organisations with public responsibilities to the Act.  Members of the public will find many of the omissions from the Act to be illogical, unfair and unjustifiable.  There are a large number of bodies which need to added to the Act more than we can cover in one letter but we will highlight certain examples.

Revision as of 06:38, 11 June 2009

Reason for letter

To get the Government to use its powers under Sections 4 & 5 of the Act to bring more organisations into the scope of the Freedom of Information Act.

The letter is intended to influence the Government's response to the findings of its consultation.

Text of letter

Sir,

We welcome the recent statements by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Justice Minister Michael Wills confirming the Government's intention to extend the scope of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). There is an increasing demand for organisations in receipt of public funding, or with a public role, to operate to the highest standards of transparency and openness. However many organisations with substantial public responsibilities are not currently subject to the UK's freedom of information laws. We find it extraordinary that private prisons, most housing associations, the monarchy and the organising committee for the London Olympics are all beyond the current reach of the act.


Now is the Government to show it it is genuinely committed to freedom of information and transparency by adding more organisations with public responsibilities to the Act. Members of the public will find many of the omissions from the Act to be illogical, unfair and unjustifiable. There are a large number of bodies which need to added to the Act more than we can cover in one letter but we will highlight certain examples.

We call on the Government to make the following bodies and officials subject to Freedom of Information Act 2000

  1. Academies (which the DCSF describes as “state-funded schools”)
  2. Returning Officers in general and local elections
  3. Financial Ombudsman Service and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme
  4. Bodies that control what we read and what we watch such as the Press Complaints Commission, the Advertising Standards Authority, and the British Board of Film Classification
  5. Housing Associations
  6. Companies owned two thirds or more by public sector bodies
  7. UCAS – the organisation responsible for managing applications to higher education courses in the UK
  8. companies that control our National Infrastructure such as the National Grid
  9. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) which formulates national policing policy in a wide range of areas

There are many other bodies which we think the Government should seriously consider making subject to the Freedom of Information Act and we have provided a more comprehensive list in an Appendix to this letter.

Regards,

NAMES