To increase transparency and improve the operation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act in the public interest. Objective To enhance proactive transparency by making more information available in a more consistent way across the public sector; and to promote the effective operation of the FOI Act in the public interest by updating and expanding the Code of Practice. Status quo Public authorities are already required to publish a wide range of information proactively. The Independent Commission on Freedom of Information (the Commission) recognised that advances have been made, with specific reference to senior pay and benefits. The Commission also commented on the publication of FOI performance statistics by a range of public authorities, including central government. However, the Commission highlighted a lack of consistency. It noted a lack of reliable FOI performance data across the public sector as a whole. It also noted that while senior pay is published, details of expenses and benefits in kind are frequently not made available proactively. Further action is required to ensure enhanced and consistent standards of openness in these areas. The Commission also highlighted the need to review and update the Code of Practice issued under section 45 of the FOI Act. This allows the government to set out the practice that it considers desirable for public authorities to follow in meeting their FOI obligations. The Code of Practice was issued over a decade ago in November 2004, shortly before the FOI Act was introduced, and has not been updated since to reflect developments in best practice and case law. The recent report by the Commission recommended that: “The government reviews section 45 of the Act to ensure that the range of issues on which guidance can be offered to public authorities under the Code is adequate. “The government should also review and update the Code to take account of the ten years of operation of the Act’s information access scheme.” Ambition We are committed to making government more transparent, so taxpayers can hold it to account both on how money is being spent and how decisions are made. This commitment will implement proposals in the Commission’s report. It will improve and increase the range of information available to the public without having to make requests for it and will improve the operation of the Act. Further steps will be taken to ensure transparency on issues such as FOI performance and senior pay and benefits across the whole public sector. The public should not have to resort to making FOI requests to obtain it. We intend to issue guidance to public authorities to set a higher standard for the publication of senior level pay and benefits by summer 2016. We will also issue guidance in the revised Section 45 Code of Practice to set a standard that public authorities with 100 full time equivalent employees or more should publish statistics on their FOI performance, to better hold public authorities to account. A revised Code of Practice will ensure the range of issues on which guidance can be offered to public authorities is sufficient and up to date. Public authorities should have sufficient guidance to properly manage information access requests in order to protect the right of access to information the FOI Act provides. We aim to consult on and issue a new Code of Practice by the end of 2016. Lead implementing organisation Cabinet Office Timeline July 2016 to December 2016
OGP values Access to information, Civic participation, Public accountability New or ongoing commitment New Other actors involved - government All government departments Other actors involved - CSOs, private sector, working groups, multilaterals etc 360Giving, ARTICLE 19, Campaign for Freedom of Information, mySociety, The Open Data Institute, Transparency International UK
Verifiable and measurable milestones to fulfil the commitmentNew or ongoingStart dateEnd date Enhanced transparency measures, including statistics on the operation of the FOI Act and data about senior pay and benefitsNewJuly 2016December 2016 Consult on and issue new FOI Code of PracticeNewJuly 2016December 2016