MoJ extends freedom of information regime to more bodies

The government has formally extended the Freedom of Information Act to cover three more organisations.

An order signed by Justice Minister Lord McNally earlier this week means that the Act will now apply to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), university admissions body UCAS, and the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

The MoJ said the scope of the Act was increased because all three bodies performed functions of a public nature.

Lord McNally said: “The public clearly deserves a government that is open and accountable for its actions, but I strongly believe that this should also apply to any organisation exercising public functions.

“I was pleased that during our consultation with ACPO, UCAS and the FOS, they were all open to the idea of being brought under the FoI umbrella.”

The Ministry is currently consulting with a number of other bodies about bringing them under the scope of the Act. They include the Local Government Association, examination boards and harbour authorities.

“I hope we will soon see an even greater number of organisations opening themselves up to the public in this way,” Lord McNally said.

The minister cited a number of government measures intended to “extend and enhance” FOIA. These include reducing the 30-year-rule, under which most public records are transferred to the National Archives and other places of deposit, to 20 years.

The MoJ is also undertaking post-legislative scrutiny, “to take a root and branch look at how the FoI Act operates”.