Friday, March 23, 2012

Secrecy laws 'don't harm the work of ministers', says information commissioner

10:20 PM | Posted by Free Game Zone | | Edit Post

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arguments "insider differs from the repeal of the freedom of information are" nonsense, "said Sir Christopher Graham

Sir Christopher Graham, Information Commissioner, came against "insiders" who have distinguished Whitehall called for the repeal of the freedom of information being considered by Parliament .

In a thinly veiled attack on the former Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell, who has called for a change in the law to protect the confidentiality of Cabinet meetings, Graham said that the arguments of many critics were "nonsense".

also warned that the alarmism about the power of the Freedom of Information Act (ATIA) requests for clarification of confidential policy discussions might encourage people to "take shortcuts ". Graham, recently urged the Ministry of Education, Michael Gove, to dissuade their officials using private email accounts to conduct government business, following reports that the method was used to circumvent the request for release of information.

few days before the first session of a revision of the common law, Graham wrote that there are safeguards to ensure that good governance is not damaged by the Freedom of Information Act. He writes: "For freedom of information, leading a chorus of Whitehall experts would have us believe, against all evidence, that the act undermines good government, because no one dares to write something more, but this is rubbish FOIA that threatens to make public. what really should remain secret for 30 years (almost 20 years). "

In his retirement from public service in December, O'Donnell said that freedom of information should be amended so that ministers would have "real conversations" without worrying that the arguments would be public.

Critics of the Freedom of Information Government highlighted the decision of the Information Commissioner that the "risk register" for the impact of the controversial NHS reforms are to be released as an example of a policy affected by the act. But Graham, who will give testimony before a court to rule on an appeal by the government on the release of the Risk Register in March, said that in extreme cases, ministers have the final say, because the Cabinet has veto power.
  • Justice Select Committee, chaired by Sir Alan Beith Liberal Democrat, is considering the value of the Freedom of Information Act, introduced 12 years ago, and start listening to the test on Tuesday .
Tony Blair, who was Prime Minister when the Act came into law, spoke of his regret for his introduction. He said: "For political leaders, which is like telling someone strikes you on the head with a stick, 'Hey, try this instead" and provide a mass. "

Some critics have suggested that the burden on people who make the freedom of information requests, amid concerns that it has simply become a tool for journalists seeking stories and businesses Private research information with commercial value.


However, advocates of greater transparency believe that in all cases it should be easier to obtain information.


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