Peter Bradwell
Researcher
Peter Bradwell is a researcher at Demos. He is interested in digital identity, technology and the ways that information and knowledge is shared...
The Freedom of Information and Open Government Blog picked up yesterday on an early day motion in the commons. It's supportive of the Constitutional Affairs Committee's report which argues against the need to alter the charging mechanisms in the FOI act.
There seem to be indications that the government is considering making it easier to refuse requests on costs grounds. As we've mentioned here on this blog, that seems an unfortunate and retrograde step and it's difficult to see the public interest argument. Especially if we want the FOIA to be more than a mechanism for government to better explain or communicate what it is doing. It should be more than a customer service. How seriously government treats the Act and its implications is a crucial part of what its effects might be.
We're looking to start some new research into access to information. Building on the rights-based issues, we want to look at the extent to which increased access to information has led to deeper changes in the information people want, need and receive, and why. If you want to know more, do let us know by email.
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