皇冠体育app

We are committed to being the most transparent government in the world.

To deliver that goal we are opening up government to citizens by making it easier to access information and increase the volume available, with a record 20,000 datasets now on聽 while protecting a private space for frank advice. We are strengthening accountability and making public services work better for people. 皇冠体育app World Wide Web Foundation鈥檚 Open Data Barometer and Open Knowledge鈥檚 Global Open Data Index ranked the UK as the world鈥檚 leading country on open government.

We are proud of these achievements and are committed to going further. Our next Open Government National Action Plan will develop an offer on transparency that further strengthens this government鈥檚 commitment to open government.

Our aim is to be as open as possible on the substance, consistent with ensuring that a private space is protected for frank advice. To that end as a government we must maintain the best environment for policy-makers to think freely and offer frank advice to decision-makers. 皇冠体育app most effective system is when policy makers can freely give advice, whilst citizens can shine a light into government.

We fully support the but after more than a decade in operation it is time that the process is reviewed, to make sure it鈥檚 working effectively. 皇冠体育app government has therefore today established an independent, cross-party Commission on Freedom of Information. 皇冠体育app Commission鈥檚 terms of reference are as follows:

皇冠体育app Commission will review the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (鈥榯he Act鈥�) to consider whether there is an appropriate public interest balance between transparency, accountability and the need for sensitive information to have robust protection, and whether the operation of the Act adequately recognises the need for a 鈥榮afe space鈥� for policy development and implementation and frank advice. 皇冠体育app Commission may also consider the balance between the need to maintain public access to information, and the burden of the Act on public authorities, and whether change is needed to moderate that while maintaining public access to information.

皇冠体育app Commission will be chaired by Lord Burns, and will comprise the Rt Hon Jack Straw, Lord Howard of Lympne, Lord Carlile of Berriew and Dame Patricia Hodgson.

皇冠体育app Commission will report to the Minister for the Cabinet Office and will publish its findings by the end of November.

皇冠体育app Prime Minister has also confirmed that policy responsibility for Freedom of Information policy will transfer from the Ministry of Justice to the Cabinet Office. This change will be effective from 17 July 2015.