There's been a lot said about the Freedom of Information Act in recent weeks. It's been quite well documented in the press about how Lord Falconer at the Department of Constitutional Affairs has indicated the potential of restrictions tot he Act because it's annoying the Government. However, when you actually look at the amount of tales that have surfaced through FoI they are not much more incredible than stories that appeared before. The only difference is that information is being leaked quite as much because people can just ask for it instead.
One of the interesting parts of the FoI is that public authorities that are subject to its provision have to make accessible a "publication scheme" which explains how people can request information and how information will be released (this usually refers to the format of publication). If you visit pretty much any public authority website under the gov.uk domain you will find (usually at the bottom) a link to "Freedom of Information" and details of their legally required "publication scheme".
Accept it seems for the Deputy Prime Minister's website which doesn't appear to have the required publication scheme, a freedom of information section, or a contact address specifically for FoI requests. Now some may think this doesn't matter anyway, "he doesn't do anything anyway!" will be the cry from the really hardened cynics.
Now that may or may not be, depending on ones personal opinion, be true. However, the site itself seems to be heavily geared towards showing that he does stuff. Given that perhaps he ought to be meeting the legal requirements and having setting up a publication scheme and informing the public of how to make FoI requests of his office?
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