Please circulate to anyone interested -- Javier Ruiz [email protected] +44(0)7877 911 412 @javierruiz
> > Katherine Gundersen > > ************************************* > Campaign for Freedom of Information > Suite 102 > 16 Baldwins Gardens > London > EC1N 7RJ > > Tel: 020 7831 7477 > www.cfoi.org.uk (http://www.cfoi.org.uk) > http://twitter.com/CampaignFOI > http://foia.blogspot.com/ > ************************************* > > > Briefing on the future of the Freedom of Information Act > > 2 pm Wednesday 18 January 2012 > > Campaign for Freedom of Information, 16 Baldwins Gardens, London EC1N 7RJ > > > The Freedom of Information Act is being reviewed by a parliamentary committee > which is likely to recommend changes to the law. This could be an important > opportunity to improve the Act. But there will also be significant pressure > for new restrictions from public authorities concerned about the cost of > dealing with FOI requests or lobbying for new exemptions. > > If you would like to contribute to the exercise, it is important to act > quickly. The deadline for submitting evidence to the committee is 3 February > 2012. The Campaign for Freedom of Information is holding a briefing meeting > on January 18 at 2 pm for those who are considering giving evidence. > > This ‘post legislative scrutiny’ of the Act is being carried out by Justice > select committee of the House of Commons.[1] It has been prompted by the > Ministry of Justice which has published a memorandum[2] highlighting specific > areas of concern, including: > > · Increasing request volumes > · The cost to public authorities and impact on resources > · The difficulty in refusing vexatious requests > · The level of protection given to policy advice and cabinet papers > · The impact on public authorities with commercial functions > > The memorandum also: > > · Acknowledges delays can occur in conducting public interest tests and > carrying out internal reviews > · Discusses the possible extension of the Act to other bodies. > > The memorandum says there is “limited evidence” about requesters’ views on > the Act. It is therefore important that the select committee hears from > requesters and we strongly encourage you to submit evidence about your > experiences. > > If you would like to attend the Campaign’s briefing meeting on January 18 > please rsvp by email to [email protected] > (mailto:[email protected]), via Twitter @CampaignFOI or by telephoning > the office on 020 7831 7477. We would be grateful if you could circulate > details of the meeting to any colleagues or contacts you think may > interested. > > Notes > > [1] > http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/justice-committee/news/foi-announce/ > > [2] > http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/policy/moj/post-legislative-scrutiny-foi.htm > > > > > > > >
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