Address for response: c/o Campaign for Freedom of Information Unit 109 Davina House Goswell Rd London EC1V 7ET

Transcription

1 The Rt Hon David Cameron MP Prime Minister 10 Downing Street London SW1A 2AA Address for response: c/o Campaign for Freedom of Information Unit 109 Davina House Goswell Rd London EC1V 7ET cc The Rt Hon Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office cc The Rt Hon Lord McNally, Minister of State for Justice 29 October 2013 Dear Prime Minister, Almost exactly a year ago the government announced a series of potential proposals to make it easier for public authorities to refuse freedom of information (FOI) requests on cost grounds. 1 The stated intention was to focus on requests causing disproportionate burdens as a result of industrial use of the FOI Act. But the proposals would restrict access by all users, including those making occasional requests of modest scope. They include plans to reduce the limit at which FOI requests can be refused on cost grounds and to allow more activities to be taken into account when calculating whether this limit has been reached - including the time authorities spend considering whether to release information. Many requests of substantial public interest would be refused under these proposals regardless of the benefits of disclosure. They would have a severe effect on the operation of the FOI Act. This week the UK chairs the international Open Government Partnership (OGP) summit in London to be attended by government and civil society representatives from some 60 countries. In this context, you have previously stated your intention to make the UK the most open and transparent government in the world. We find it difficult to reconcile your ambition that the UK should be the world leader in openness with the government s proposals to restrict the FOI Act, which is a critical element of the UK s openness arrangements. 1 Government Response to the Justice Committee s Report: Post-legislative scrutiny of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, November 2012.

2 We hope that the government will mark that commitment by announcing that it will not be bringing forward proposals to restrict the Act. Yours sincerely, Peter Walsh Roger Wicks of Policy and Campaigns Davina James-Hanman Andrew Tyler David Banisar Senior Legal Counsel Nick Pickles Pavan Dhaliwal Head of Public Affairs Stephen Bowen Nasreen Rehman Chair Gerry Morrissey General Secretary Jo Harvey Barringer Chair of Trustees Michelle Thew Officer Ann Feltham Parliamentary Co-ordinator Stephen Joseph Maurice Frankel Action against Medical Accidents Action on Hearing Loss Against Violence & Abuse Animal Aid Article 19 Big Brother Watch British Humanist Association British Institute of Human Rights British Muslims for Secular Democracy Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union Broken Rainbow UK BUAV Campaign Against Arms Trade Campaign for Better Transport Campaign for Freedom of Information

3 Barry White National Organiser Peter Newell Co-ordinator Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom Children are unbeatable! Alliance Compact Voice Marilyn Croser Co-ordinator Corporate Responsibility Coalition Corporate Watch Dr Michele Lamb Charles Garside Assistant Editor Anthony Zacharzewski Leander Neckles Board Member Heather Brooke Crucible Centre for Human Rights Research Daily Mail Democratic Society Equanomics-UK FOI campaigner Gita Parihar Head of Legal Chris Whitwell Will Moy Bernard Reed Trustee Jan Thompson Managing Editor Henrietta Doyle Policy Officer Andy Whitmore Friends of the Earth Friends, Families and Travellers Community Base Full Fact Gender Identity Research and Education Society Guardian News & Media Inclusion London Indigenous Peoples Links

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5 Santha Rasaiah Political, Editorial and Regulatory Affairs Libby Anderson Policy Magnus Nome Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Gray of Policy & Ideas Jim Killock Executive Chris Taggart CEO and co-founder Louise Hazan Campaigns Manager Tim Davies Co-director Dominic Ponsford Editor Nicki Rensten Newspaper Society OneKind Open Democracy Open Knowledge Foundation Open Rights Group OpenCorporates People & Planet Practical Participation Press Gazette Prisoners Advice Service Cathy James Andy Rowell Richard Hawkins David Hall-Matthews Managing Andy Gregg Maurice Wren Graham Smith Officer Public Concern at Work Public Interest Investigations Public Interest Research Centre Publish What You Fund Race on the Agenda Refugee Council Republic

6 Lucas Amin Co-founder and Operations Susan Bryant Amy Aeron-Thomas Executive Paul Gibbons Request Initiative Rights Watch (UK) RoadPeace Save FOI Bob Satchwell Executive Tamasin Cave Jonathan Isaby Political Gavin Aitchison News Editor Penelope Gibbs Alexandra Runswick Vivienne Hayes Officer Society of Editors Spinwatch Taxpayers Alliance The Press in York Transform Justice Unlock Democracy Women s Resource Centre