5 CONCLUSION
51. The current Government has successfully reformed
the relationship between citizen and all of those engaged in public
administration as a result of passing the Freedom of Information
Act. It is difficult to overstate the importance of this legislation.
So far, it has contributed to greater understanding of much of
the work carried out in the name of the public. We fully support
the aims of the Freedom of Information Act, in particular its
objective of creating a new culture of openness on the part of
public authorities.
52. We have carefully examined the case made by the
DCA for amendment of the arrangements for handling Freedom of
Information requests. We do not accept the arguments made in favour
of the need for reform. Although it is undoubtedly true that Freedom
of Information legislation carries with it a certain cost, we
think that this is entirely justified. The extra burden on public
authorities arising from the Freedom of Information Act is a necessary
part of the basic reform which the legislation intended to carry
out.
53. We welcome the Government's decision, announced
on 29 March 2007, to consult further as to whether the Regulations
should be amended at all, and we believe that this has provided
an opportunity for ministers to abandon these unnecessary, unpopular
and undesirable restrictions on the operation of the Freedom of
Information Act.
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