The Campaign for Freedom of Information – which played a key role in securing the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act – celebrates its 30th anniversary this week. The Act itself is 10 years old this month.
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To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Campaign for Freedom of Information and raise funds to help us continue our important work we are selling these special edition t-shirts featuring a design exclusively created for the Campaign by the political cartoonist Steve Bell. This unique and original item of clothing, which features the former Prime Minister who famously reproached himself for introducing the FOI Act, can be yours for just £30 plus P&P.
The design has been printed on white organic Earth Positive t-shirts in an ethically accredited factory.
© Steve Bell.
Please note, shipping to addresses outside the UK is by prior arrangement only, please email us your order.
More than one t-shirt can be ordered by adjusting the number in the shopping cart, but note shipping charges will be added at £3.00 per item. If you email us your order instead we can adjust these.
The Freedom of Information Act (FOI Act), which has its 10th anniversary on January 1 2015, has played a major part in informing the public about the state of public services, says the Campaign for Freedom of Information. The Act, which was passed in November 2000 came into force on January 1 2005. However, the Campaign says it is being undermined by the increasing use of private contractors to provide public services.
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On 17th November, MPs debated John Hemming’s Transparency and Accountability Bill, which contains measures drafted by the Campaign to strengthen the public’s right to know about public services which have been contracted out.
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The Campaign has joined a coalition of more than 30 NGOs urging peers to support amendments to Part 4 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, which proposes significant restrictions on the procedure for judicial review.
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A Bill to close a loophole in the Freedom of Information Act that allows contractors providing public services to escape scrutiny is due have its second reading debate on Friday 17 October.
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The Campaign has responded to a consultation on behalf of the Senior President of Tribunals on the proposal to allow some Freedom of Information Act appeals against decisions of the Information Commissioner to be dealt with by a single judge sitting alone rather than, as at present, by a judge and two lay members.
The Campaign’s proposals for a bill to increase FOI access to information held by contractors providing public services have been taken up by John Hemming MP (Lib Dem, Birmingham Yardley) who drew a place in the ballot for Private Members’ Bills. Mr Hemming’s Transparency and Accountability Bill combines measures on a number of different issues. As well as amending the FOI Act in relation to contractors, it includes provisions:
- regarding arrangements for children involved in court proceedings;
- on the transparency, administration and accountability of courts and case conferences;
- requiring the Secretary of State to report to Parliament annually on the number of prisoners who have exceeded their tariff and have not been released because they do not admit guilt;
- to extend the Criminal Cases Review Commission’s powers to obtain information; to make provision about consumer complaints in markets for public services.
The FOI provisions are in clauses 15 to 17 of the Bill. A copy of the Bill with explanatory notes is available on Mr Hemming’s website, which also allows you to indicate your support for the Bill. The Bill’s second reading in the House of Commons is due to take place on 17th October 2014. However, as Mr Hemming came relatively low in the ballot, Parliamentary time for the bill’s consideration may be limited.
For additional information about FOI and contractors see this press release and this note.
In a remarkable decision the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ruled that an MP’s letter to a local council about its parking policy should be withheld to protect the MP’s privacy – though there is no suggestion that the letter contained anything about the MP’s personal circumstances (ICO Decision Notice FS50530093).
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The Campaign has responded to a consultation reviewing the statutory bar in section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 which prohibits the disclosure of information supplied to the Home Office in applications to use animals in scientific research. The Campaign welcomes the proposed removal of the bar. But it opposes plans to replace it by a narrower prohibition on the disclosure of information about researchers, research locations and intellectual property. It says the FOI exemptions adequately protect such information already. An absolute bar would prevent disclosure even where it would not be harmful or would be in the public interest. However, the Campaign has said that it does not object to a proposed a new offence for malicious disclosures made with the intention of causing harm or for personal gain.