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31 January 2008

Freedom of Information likely to be extended to some private sector bodies

Jack Straw, the UK's Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, has confirmed in the House of Commons that the government plans to extend the Freedom of Information Act to the private sector. The UK Freedom of Information blog brings this news, quoting an exchange between Straw and Norman Baker MP.

The government launched a consultation on the issue in October 2007. The consultation closes on 1 February 2008. As part of his exchange in the Commons with Baker, Straw said:

"As the boundary between the public and private sectors for the delivery of what are essentially public services has moved, so we believe that the arrangements should move as well. That is why we are consulting on the matter."

Also as part of the exchange, Baker also asked whether the government planned to amend the Freedom of Information Act to "guard against repeated, petty and often exorbitant requests that are made frequently and do nothing to add to freedom of information". Straw replied "There is already a large array of safeguards in the Act and within the practice of the Information Commissioner."

Posted at 08:53 AM |

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