Ninth Report - The Cabinet Office Freedom of Information Clearing House
Select Committee
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
HC 505
29 April 2022
Recommendations
2 results
2
Accepted
Para 20
A greater level of transparency is required about the Clearing House.
Recommendation
A greater level of transparency is required about the Clearing House. To further allay concerns about the Clearing House, a greater volume of data on its performance should be published. As a minimum, the Cabinet Office needs to publish the …
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Government Response Summary
FOI compliance statistics are already published on a quarterly basis on gov.uk and states that in 2021, the Cabinet Office’s performance consistently met and exceeded the ICO’s published standard. The government has shared the letter from the Director General for Propriety and Ethics to the then Information Commissioner setting out the reasons why they believe that an internal review rather than an external audit is a proportionate response.
8
Accepted
Para 46
The Cabinet Office should review these practices and their own compliance with the Freedom of...
Recommendation
The Cabinet Office should review these practices and their own compliance with the Freedom of Information Act to model best practice. This should include, in particular, the adoption, where possible, of applicant-blind processing of requests; clear guidance on the very …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that all FOI requests are handled on an applicant blind basis and the Clearing House’s processes are completely in line with relevant legislation. They also state that it would be wrong for the Cabinet Office to intervene in another department’s procedures and decisions.
Conclusions (2) Observations and findings — click to expand
3
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 28
It is disappointing that the Cabinet Office rejected the Information Commissioner’s Office’s offer to undertake a Freedom of Information Audit, and we are concerned both by this refusal itself and by the precedent this may set across Government. The Cabinet Office’s decision was misjudged given the Information Commissioner’s Office’s Freedom …
Government Response Summary
The government defends its decision to conduct an internal review of FOI handling, citing the Information Commissioner's Office's statistics on FOI compliance and stating that the internal review will provide further reassurance about the nature and role as well as looking to provide a positive opportunity to enhance practice where possible.
4
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 29
Further, the Committee notes with concern the Cabinet Office’s failure to deliver on its promise of a short internal review. The Cabinet Office also missed an opportunity to expose itself to a rigorous third-party review which could have improved its own Freedom of Information operations. It is now eight months …
Government Response Summary
The government claims all FOI requests are handled on an applicant blind basis and that Clearing House's processes are compliant with legislation. It states it would be wrong for the Cabinet Office to intervene in another department's procedures and decisions.