Freedom of Information Act 2000: progress towards implementation first report of session 2004-05. Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes.

House of Commons papers 2004-05 79-I

Corporate Author:

Parliament House of Commons Constitutional Affairs Committee

Author:

Beith Alan J. chairman

Publisher:

TSO (The Stationery Office)

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 comes fully into force in January 2005, providing a general right of access to information held by some 100,000 public authorities. The Committee's report examines the extent to which public bodies are prepared for the implementation of the Act, focusing on three representative sectors of the police, the health sector and local government. It also looks at the role of the Department for Constitutional Affairs, which is responsible for overall co-ordination of preparatory measures for its implementation. The Committee expresses its full support for the Act and looks forward to its successful operation in the future. Findings include that the police service are generally as well prepared as any public body, whilst the health sector did not appear to be as close to achieving full compliance with the legislation. There is a varied picture in the local government sector, with some authorities well advanced and others less so. The Committee notes its concerns over the DCA's failure to provide early guidance on technical matters and doubts whether adequate preparations have been made to fully achieve the implementation date. These problems risk creating the impression that FOI implementation is another chore to be undertaken, rather than a catalyst for a cultural shift to greater openness.

Extent	51p.	ISBN	9780215020741
Size	N/A	Price	£12.00
Binding	Paperback	Published	07 Dec 2004
Availability	Colour copy: 3 - 5 days	Delivery	Delivery options and charges

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