Plans for Freedom of Information to be extended

Freedom of Information

Many bodies which perform public functions are to be consulted about being brought within the scope of freedom of information. These include

• the Law Society and the Bar Council, which regulate the legal profession;
• the Advertising Standards Authority, which regulates the advertising industry;
• the Panel on Takeover and Mergers, which regulates City takeovers;
• the Quality Assurance Agency, which monitors standards in higher education;
• the British Standards Institute, which develops and certifies industry standards;
• the Independent Schools Inspectorate, the Schools Inspection Service, and the Bridge School Inspectorate - inspection services for private schools;
• the Traffic Penalty Tribunal and the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service, which hears appeals against parking fines;
• the Carbon Trust and the Energy Saving Trust - publicly funded green initiatives;
• the Local Government Association and the NHS Confederation, as associations of public authorities already covered.

The Ministry of Justice will also confirm it is pressing ahead with extending FOI to three organisations previously indicated,

• the Association of Chief Police Officers,
• the Financial Services Ombudsman 
• the higher education admissions body UCAS

As yet, there are no plans to bring Network Rail, within the FOI scope, as pledged by both coalition parties before the election, nor the private utility or water companies. The Royal family also find themselves with greater protection from FOI, with an absolute exemption for communications with the monarch and the heir to the throne.

From 2013, the 30 year rule for the release of public documents is to be reduced to 20, phased in over 10 years with two years' worth of records being transferred each year until the process is complete.

Source: Martin Rosenbaum at the BBC

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