26 August 2021

Deadline Extension To Submit Evidence To Inquiry Into ‘FOI Clearing House’

The deadline to submit evidence to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee’s inquiry into the Cabinet Office’s “FOI clearing house” has been extended until the end of next month.

The News Media Association supported a successful legal bid by openDemocracy to force the Cabinet Office to release details of how its “FOI clearing house” handled requests after concerns about its operations.  

Launched in July this year, the PACAC inquiry will focus on how the Cabinet Office body handles requests, the measures used to do so, and whether this complies with the FOI Act. It will not be investigating the Act itself.

Committee chair William Wragg said: “The perceived opacity of how the FoI Clearing House operates has the potential to damage trust in governance and transparency legislation. As a matter of trust, we felt it is something that must be addressed at the earliest opportunity.

“The Committee will examine how the Freedom of Information Act is implemented at the heart of Government and whether these measures fit with the spirit of Act.”

The NMA will be submitting evidence to the inquiry before the deadline of 30 September.