FOI90

WrittenevidencefromRequestInitiative

Executivesummary TheCoalitiongovernmentcametopowerpromisingtheextensionofthescope oftheFreedomofInformationActtoprovidegreatertransparency.David Cameronwhenbecomingprimeministerpersonallycommittedhimselftoopen andaccountablegovernment 1 .ThegovernmenthaslaunchedtheTransparency Initiativewhichhasresultedinlargeamountsofinformationheldbypublic bodiesbeingpublished,whichiscommendable.However,someoftheproposals intheMinistryofJustice(MoJ)memorandumonFoIAthreatentounderminethe coalitionscommitmenttotransparencyandinterferewithonthepublicsright toaccessinformation Thissubmissionwillpresentevidencethatthecostofimplementingthe FreedomofInformationActarenowfallingwhilethenumberofrequestsis increasingtosuggestthatpublicdepartmentsaredeliveringgreatervaluefor money.Thesubmissionwillthendiscussthequalityandquantityofpublic interestinformationdisclosures.Theuseoftheacthasdemonstrablysupported transparencyandincreasingpublicawarenessofpublicfunctions.Theuseof publicmoneyisbothmoretransparentandaccountable.Itisthereforeargued thatthecostsassociatedwithFoIAareasoundinvestmentandthatthepublic interestmustcontinuetobeservedandprotected. RequestInitiativeisanotforprofitcommunityinterestcompanywhichmakes requestsonbehalfofcharitiesandNGOsactinginthepublicinterest.Weargue thatthereneedstobeastrongerlegaldefinitionofthepublicinterestandthat thetestshouldbeappliedtoallexemptions,removingabsoluteexemptionsfrom thelegislation.Requestmakesthecasethatfeesshouldnotbeintroducedfor makingFOIArequests.However,iftheCommitteeisdeterminedtointroduce feesthenthissubmissionarguesthatthepublicinteresttestshouldagainbe incorporated.ItisalsorecommendedthattheCommitteereconsiderhowthe DataProtectionActfitswiththeFoIAwiththesuggestedsolutionagainbeingthe applicationofthepublicinteresttest.Finally,thissubmissionasksthatthe Commissionconsiderindetailthepotentialbenefitsofexpandingthescopeof theacttocovermorepublicauthoritiesandprivatecompaniesundertaking publicwork. AboutRequestInitiative RequestInitiativeisanonprofitcommunityinterestcompanythatmakes FreedomofInformationAct(FoIA),EnvironmentalInformationRegulations (EIR)andDataProtectionAct(DPA)requestsforcharitiesandnon
11http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/pressconferenceonthecoalitionourprogrammefor

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governmentalorganisations(NGOs)withinthecontextofinvestigativeresearch. RequestInitiativealsoconductsitsowninvestigationsintoareasofpublic interest. Costs TheimplementationoftheFoIAhasresultedinsignificantcostsforpublic bodies.Requeststolocalauthoritieshaverisenbymorethan300percent, [OVERWHATPERIOD].However,thecostsassociatedwithprocessingrequests isfalling.ResearchbytheConstitutionUnit,UniversityCollegeLondonestimates thatin2009localauthoritiesspentatotalof37millionrespondingto165,000 requests.In2010thiscostdroppedto32milliondespitethehighernumberof requestsreceived,198,000 2 .TheUCLresearchissignificantinscopeasthey receivedsubstantiveresponsesfrom104FoIAofficersworkinginlocal authorities. Theresearchshowsthatthetime,andthereforecost,ofrespondingtorequests hassteadilydeclinedsincethelegislationwasenacted.In2005anFoIArequest tookanaverageof16.4hourstoanswerbutin2010ittookjust6.4.Costedat 25perhourthisrepresentsadropfrom410to160perrequest,onaverage.
Table1(source:seefootnote) Year Estimatednumberof Requests Averagehoursper request Totalestimatedcostof FOItoEnglishlocal authorities(in millions)

2005 60,361 16.4 24.7 2006 72,361 13.1 23.6 2007 80,114 15.3 30.6 2008 118,569 11.6 34.3 2009 164,508 8.9 36.6 2010 197,737 6.4 31.6 Reasonsforthereductionincostsmightincludetheincreasingexpertiseand experienceofinformationofficersandbetterinformationmanagementonthe partofpublicbodies.Itcanbereasonablyassumedthatcostswillcontinuetobe reduced,astherateoffallhasremainedsignificant(seetable1). TheUCLresearchdoesnotcoverdepartmentsofstate.Helpfully,thisdatais collectedbytheMoJ,alongwithdataonothermonitoredbodies.Therehasnot beenasignificantincreaseinthenumberofFoIArequeststodepartmentsof state.requeststodepartmentsofstateandothermonitoredbodieshave increasedbyjust15percentoverthefirstfiveyearsoftheactbeinginplace, from38,108in2005to43,921in2010 3 .
22FOIA2000andlocalgovernmentin2010: TheexperienceoflocalauthoritiesinEngland:Constitution

Unit,UniversityCollegeLondon;GabrielleBourke, JimAmos,BenWorthy, JenniferKatzaros

33SecondAnnualReportontheoperationoftheFOIActinCentralGovernment2006,ThirdAnnualReport

ontheoperationoftheFOIActinCentralGovernment2007,AnnualStatisticsontheoperationoftheFOI ActinCentralGovernment2008,2009AnnualStatisticsonimplementationincentralgovernment,Statistics

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Therequestsmadetodepartmentsofstateandothermonitoredbodiesin2010 representedonly22percentofthetotalrequestssubmittedacrossthecountry. Moreover,departmentsofstateandothermonitoredbodieswillhavelikely benefittedfromsomeoftheadvantageslocalauthoritiesusedtodrivedown costs,suchasexperienceandbetterinformationmanagement.However,thereis noestimatedresponsetime(andthereforecost)figures. Table2(source:seefootnote2and3)
Year Requeststodepartmentsofstateand othermonitoredbodies.*takenfrom MoJannualreportsonFoIA Requeststolocalauthorities.*takenfrom UCLConstitutionunit

2005 38,108 60,361 2006 33,688 72,361 2007 32,978 80,114 2008 34,950 118,569 2009 40,548 164,508 2010 43,921 197,737 TheevidencesuggeststhatthecostsofimplementingtheFoIAhavebeenborne largelybylocalauthorities,wherethenumberofrequestshasincreasedyearon year.However,theprocessingcostsofeachindividualrequesthasfallen consistentlysince2005meaningthatthetotalcosttothetaxpayerhasnotrun outofcontrol.ThereisevidencethatadministratorsofFoIAaresignificantly drivingdowncosts,meaningchangestothefeesregulationswouldbe unnecessaryintermsofreducingcostswhilebeingdetrimentaltothepublic interestinensuringtransparency. RequestInitiativewouldalsosuggestthatbetterinformationmanagementin publicbodiesisinitselfapositiveoutcomeandcouldhaveledtosavingsinstaff timeinprocessesnotrelatedtoFoIA,althoughwearenotinapositiontooffer anyevidenceforthisargument.Itisalsohighlylikelythatmanyrequestsfor information,forexamplefromregionalmedia,wouldhavebeenprocessed beforetheimplementationoftheactandthatthesecostswouldhavebeenborne bypublicbodiesifinvisiblyaspartofitseverydayfunctions. Thepublicinterest RequestInitiativearguesthatthepublicinteresttestshouldbeincorporated morewidelyanddefinedmoreclearlyintheFoIA.Thereshouldbeapublic interesttestineachoftheexemptions,includingthoserelatingtonational security,personaldataandcostlimitations.Thereshouldnotbeanytotal exemptionsandallexemptionsshouldbequalifiedbyapublicinteresttest.This
onimplementationincentralgovernment2010Annual and Q4:OctoberDecember2010:TheMinistry ofJustice

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argumentisperhapsmostcontentiouswhenappliedtothesecretservicesbut eveninthiscasethepublicauthorityshouldbeabletogiveaclearand convincingcaseastowhyinformationshouldnotbedisclosed.Thiscould,atthe veryleast,beconductedincamera.Itseemsacircularargumenttoarguethatit isinthenationalinterestnottodiscloseanyinformationaboutthesecurity servicesandthereforeatotalexemptionshouldapply.Therewillbemany instanceswherethepossibilityofdisclosurewillensureprobityandefficiency evenwithinthesedepartments. Thepublicinteresttestisvitaltoqualifiedexceptionsandisatermoftenrelied uponintheact.However,itisverypoorlydefined.TheCommitteeshouldtake thisopportunitytogiveaclear,accessibleandunambiguousdefinitionofthe publicinterestincludingkeytestswhichneedtobemetandsomemechanismby whichthelegitimateinterestsofthepubliccanbeweighedagainstconflicting interests,includingthoseoftherighttoprivacy.RequestInitiativebelievesthis measurealonewouldseriouslyreducetheamountofrequeststhatare contested,andthenumberwhicharetakentotheInformationCommissioners Office,totribunalandtothesupremecourt.Thiswouldreducecostsforpublic bodiesandperhapsmoreimportantlysignificantlyreducethedelayindisclosing information. ThegreatvirtueoftheFoIAisthatitservesthepublicinterest.Notableexamples ofthepublicinterestbeingservedbydisclosuresundertheFoIAincludethe examinationofMPsexpenses 4 andtherevelationthattheDepartmentofTrade andIndustrylobbiedtheUSonbehalfofBPfordrillingrightsofIraqsoil reservesin2002,sixmonthsbeforethewarbegan 5 .Wehaveseenthat disclosuresmadeundertheFoIAhavethecapacitytochangelawandpolicy whilealsoinformingthedocumentationofhistoryataprofoundlevel.However, notallFoIAdisclosuresasmomentousastheexamplesgivenabove. ResearchbyRequestInitiativeindicatestherearemorethan200FoIAnews articlespublishedintheUKnationalpresseachmonth.Themajorityofthese disclosuresservethepublicinterest.Forexample,letusexaminetheFoIA disclosuresintheweekthissubmissionwaswritten(Januart22toJanuary29, 2012).Inthattimeperiodthefollowingdisclosureswerereported: Morethanathirdofthe32servingpoliceandsupportofficersinWales whobrokethelawinthepastfiveyearskepttheirjobs 6 Londonhospitalswriteoffupto96percentofbillsowedbyforeign patients 7 CompaniesincludingBPandGooglepay1,800atimetodinewith ministersandcivilservants 8

4http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mpsexpenses/ 5http://www.fuelonthefire.com/index.php?page=documents 6http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ukwales16508670

7http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ukenglandlondon16711783 8http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article2091461/Cashaccessrowreignitescompaniespay1800 timedineministerscivilservantsexclusiveChemistryClubevents.html#ixzz1kYdKhlWT

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AthirdofdebtsowedbypoorcountriestoUKisinterestonoriginal loans 9 CollegesarerunningoutofsupportfundsforstudentsinScotland,even beforecutsof11millionareimposed 10 Morethan600convictedkillerdriversaredrivingagainonUKroads 11 JBPriestley,RoaldDahl,LucianFreudandLSLowryareamongthe277 peoplewhohaveturneddownhonours 12 GoogleandBinghavebeenaccusedofdirectinguserstoillegalcopiesof music 13 120,000foraBRUISE!Compensationpayouttopoliceofficerscriticised asforcespayout12mtostaff 14 335,000oftaxpayers'moneygoesongianttoadstoolssculpturein muddyDorsetfieldtomarkLondongames 15 Eachofthesetenstoriescontributestodebateonmattersofkeypublicinterest includingpolicing,healthcare,governmentlobbying,internationalaid,further education,roadsafety,theroyalfamily,copyrightinfringement,compensation payoutsandOlympicexpenditure.ItisreasonabletosurmisethatFoIAhas resultedinasignificantincreaseininformationwhichhasbeendisclosedinthe publicinterest. Theabovedisclosuresarediverseinnatureandintermsofthepeoplewhohade theoriginalrequest.ItdoesnotappearfromthisevidencethattheFoIAis exploitedbyspecialinterestsorgroupsofaparticularpoliticalpersuasion,nor dothedisclosuresreflectanyparticularregionalbias.Theinformationabove reflectslocalandinternationalissuesandconcernsonthepoliticalleftandright. IntheMoJsmemorandum,FoIAofficersexpressedsomeresentmentat journalistsuseofFoIA.Thisraisesthequestion:whyisthemediabeingattacked overitsuseofFoIA?ThestorieslistedaboveappearedontheBBC,theDaily Mail,theDailyMirror,theDailyTelegraph,theGuardianandtheScottishHerald. Journalists,whenworkingonstoriesinthepublicinterest,speakonbehalfofthe publicincludingonoccasionmarginalisedcommunitieswhodonothavethe resourcestorepresentthemselvesorconducttheirownresearch.Moreover, journalistsenjoyaplatformonwhichtoraisepublicawarenessofinformation disclosures.Itcouldbearguedthatthepublicinterestisservedbyjournalists makingFoIArequestssincetheyhavetheresourcestomaketheinformation availabletobroadersectionsofthepublic.
9http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/22/poorcountriesdebtukinterest?newsfeed=true 10http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/education/collegecashforbursariesrunningout.16541427 11http://www.mirror.co.uk/mobile/topnews/2012/01/23/morethan600convictedkillerdrivers

allowedbackontheroad11587523713164/#ixzz1kYddxbDh
12http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/honourslist/9039608/OfficialJBPriestleyRoaldDahl

LucianFreudandLSLowryamong277othersturneddownhonoursfromtheQueen.html 13http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/jan/26/googlebingillegalmusic?newsfeed=true 14http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article2092578/Policecompensationpayouts12millionincluding 120000bruise.html#ixzz1l29w8d72 15http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article2092558/London2012Olympics335ktaxpayersmoney spenttoadstoolssculptureDorset.html#ixzz1l2A4dNgy

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IftheobjectofFoIAistoenahncecivicengagementandinspirenew relationshipsbetweenthecitizenandpublicbodiesthroughgreater accountability,thenitistosomeextentworking.Theincreasingnumberof requestsandthediverseandfrequentpublicinterestinformationdisclosures aretestimonytothis.Risingnumbersofrequestsshouldalsobeunderstoodas theresultofsuccessfulpolicyandtolegislatetomitigatefurtherincreaseswould becounterintuitive. TheFoIAisanimportantpartofourdemocracyandrequestshaveleadtosome ofthemostimportantpoliticalrevelationsofthedecade.Butthepublics interestsarealsoservedonadailybasisbytheAct,enrichingpubliclifeand fosteringcivicengagement.ThemediahaveprovencapableofusingtheFoIA responsiblytopublishinformationinthepublicinterestonadailybasis. Feesregulations TheCommitteehasheardevidencefromFoIAofficersthattheactcanbea burdenonpublicauthoritiesandsomehavesuggestedthatthecostlimitfor requestsbereduced.Ithasbeensuggestedthatthefeesregulationsshouldbe modifiedtoincludethetimetakentoconsiderrequestsandredactinformation. RequestInitiativearguesthatthecostsofFreedomofInformationrequestsare justifiedbecauseofthesocialandeconomicbenefitsthatpublicinterest informationdisclosuresprovidebywayofinformingdebateandensuring accountability.Thereisseriousconcernthatenablingpublicbodiestoinclude thecostofredactingdocumentswhenconsideringwhetheranexemptionshould beappliedoncostsgroundswouldleadtoasignificantreductionoftheamount ofinformationdisclosed.Themostimportantinformationintermsofthepublic interestisoftenthemostcontentious.Makingredactionstodocumentsiscost intensiveandsuchameasureislikelytoresultinswathesofinformationno longerbeingmadeavailable.Itwillalsobedifficulttocosttheprocessof redactionsaccuratelyandtherewillbeatemptationforofficerstoerrhabitually infavourofnondisclosure.Apublicbodywhichisreluctanttoreleaseany informationwillbegivensignificantlyincreasedpowersofdiscretionoverwhich informationshouldbereleasedandthismayonmanyoccasionsnotbestserve thepublicinterest.Thereisaseriousconcernthatraisingfeeswouldbe discriminatoryonthebasisthatsomemembersofthepublicwouldbeunableto accessinformationbecauseoflimitedincomes.Itseemswhollyunfairthata tobaccocompany,forexample,wouldhavegreateraccesstopubliclyfundedand publiclyheldinformationthandeprivedcommunitiesperhapsthosesuffering fromcancerbasedpurelyontheirfinancialsituation. However,iftheCommitteeisintentonmakingchangestothefeesregulations thenmeasuresshouldbeintroducedinensurethatthepublicsrighttoaccess informationonmattersofpublicinterestshouldbesafeguarded.This submissionstateswhythepublicinteresttestshouldbeusedtogreatereffect withintheFoIA.Specifically,thepublicinteresttestshouldbeusedinbalance withtheconsiderationofcosts.Thiswouldmeanthatpublicauthoritieswould

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onlybecompelledtomeetthecostsofredactingandthendisclosinginformation whenithadbeenjudgedthatthereleaseofinformationwasinthepublic interest.Thiswouldreducethecostoffrivolousrequestswhileensuringthat thepublicinterestinensuringaccountabilityandtransparencywasnot negativelyimpacted.ResearchbyUCLsConstitutionUnitshowsthatFoIofficers believebusinessesareresponsiblefor25percentofallrequestssubmittedto localauthorities.Ifitcouldbeshownthatreplyingtotheserequestswasinthe interestsofthecompanybutnotofthepublicmoregenerallythentheycouldbe refusedoncostsgroundsorcouldresultinacostonlyfee.Thiscouldresult chargesbeingleviedforaround50,000requests. Therearealternativestoimplementingfees.ResearchconductedbytheICO suggeststhatalthoughoverallcomplianceisgood,thereisstillnotacultureof opennessinmanypublicbodies.Thiscanresultinthemishandlingofrequests bypublicbodies,evidencedbythe55%ofcomplaintsthatareupheldorpartially upheldattheICOin2011. 16 OnesolutiontothiswouldbetoendowtheICOwith thepowertomonetarilypenaliseauthoritiesthataredeemedtoberepeat offenders.Here,thethreatofafinecouldincentiviseauthoritieswhooperate poorinformationmanagementandFoIAadministrationsystemstoimprove theirefforts. DataProtectionandpublicinterest TheFoIAisperhapsweakestwhereitinterplayswiththeDataProtectionAct, exemptionsunderSection40(2)oftheact.Publicbodiesroutinelyredact informationwhichitconsiderstobepersonaldata.Theguidanceandrulingsof theInformationCommissionersOfficehaveshownthatpublicfiguresof seniorityshouldbenamedundertheact.However,thereremainssignificant scopeforfurtherlegaldefinitionandguidanceastowhatpersonaldatashould bedisclosed.Itisalsonotablethatmembersofthepublichaveoftenhadto resorttothehighestcourtstoensurethatpersonaldataisreleased.Request Initiativehasexperienceinitsworkpersonaldataofthepeopleactuallymaking therequestshasbeenwithhelddespitethefacttheyhaveexplicitlystatedthat theyareentirelyhappyforthatinformationtobereleased.TheCharity CommissionhadredactedthenamesofMPswhohavebeennamedbytheir constituentsashavingreceivedcorrespondence.Thiswasoverturnedatthe internalreviewlevelbutshowsthatatthispublicbodythereisapresumption thatdataprotectionmeansalmostallnamesshouldberedacted. TheDataProtectionActstatesthatpersonaldatamustbeprocessedfairlyand lawfully.ThereislittleinlaworincasesattheInformationRightsTribunalto definewhatisfair.Ithasbeenarguedthatfairnessappliestothepublic generallyandnotjusttotheindividualwhoisthedatasubject.However,it wouldbehugelybeneficialifthedataprincipalcouldbereplacedwithapublic interesttest.ThiscouldbeachievedbytheFoIAbeingrevisedsothatittakes precedentovertheDataProtectionActandcontainswithinitthelegal protectionsneededtoensuretheindividualsrighttoprivacyratherthan 16Informationisthecurrencyofdemocracyannualreport:2011;InformationCommissionersOffice

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deferringthemattertoanother,older,pieceoflegislation.Thecasefora broader,morepowerfulandbetterdefinedpublicinteresttesthasalreadybeen madebutisclearlyrelevantinthiscase. Privatecompaniesandpublicinterest TheFoIAhasbeenasuccessonanumberofgrounds,however,thereis considerablescopeforitsimprovementbywayofextendingtheActsschedule toafargreaternumberofpublicbodiesandprivatecompanieswhoare contractedtodopublicwork. Theargumenttoincludeprivatecompaniescontractedtodopublicworkis particularlystrong.Thecompaniesareprovidingapublicserviceandarefunded withpublicmoney.Thereforetheyshouldbeaccountabletothepublic.Asthe UKfacesincreasingprivatisationthegeneraltransparencyofinstitutionsis diminishing.BarnetCouncil,forinstance,hasbeenwhollyprivatised.But,as taxpayers,citizenshavearighttoknowhowthepublicservicestheyfundare managedanddelivered,regardlessofthelegalformoftheprovider. RequestInitiativeisparticularlyconcernedabouttheapplicationoftheFoIAto privateeducationinstitutions.WenotethatalmostalluniversitiesintheUK currentlycomeundertheFoIAwiththeexceptionoftwoprivatelyrun institutionsincludingtheUniversityofBuckingham.Thiscurrentsituationisin itselfinherentlyunfairasitcreatesanunevenplayingfieldwithintheeducation sector.Inparticular,youhaveasituationwhereLordLawsonhasbeengivenan honorarydoctorofsciencefromtheUniversityofBuckingham,notcoveredby FOIA,lessthanayearaftercriticisingtheUniversityofEastAngliafornot releasinginformationundertheFOIA. Thereisconsiderableconcernaboutthefuture.Thecoalitiongovernments proposedchangestothefundingofuniversitieshaveextremelywide implicationsandwithinthebroaderpublicdebatetheimpactonthe transparencyofinformationheldbyfurtherandhighereducationinstitutions hasreceivedlittleattention. Underthegovernmentsplans,agreatnumberofnewprivateprovidersof highereducationareenteringthemarketwhilethebudgetforpublicuniversities continuestoshrink.Manyofthesenewuniversitieswillbeprivatecompanies and,underthecurrentlegislation,notsubjecttoFoIA.Thesenewuniversities arebeing'designated'accesstotheStudentLoanCompany,meaningtheir studentscanaccesstaxpayerfundedloansandgrantsfortheirfeesand maintenancecosts.Thousandsofstudentsatover150privateuniversitiesare nowaccessingpublicfundstopayfortheirprivateeducationsandthisfigureis projectedtogrowrapidly.ButprivateuniversitieswillbeexemptfromFoIA undercurrentlegislation,despitetheirrelianceonpublicmoney. Asinstitutionsconducingresearchandeducationthismeansthatasignificant andimportantareaofknowledgecreationwillnolongerbetransparentand opentopublicscrutiny.Whileitisunderstoodthatmanyuniversitiesmayinfact

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beinfavourofnothavingtorespondtorequestsitseemsselfevidentthatthisis notthebestcoursetoensurethatthepublicinterestisguaranteedinthe deliveryofresearchandeducation. Conclusion ThecoalitiongovernmentwhencomingtopowerpromisedtoextendtheFoIA andhasimplementedtheTransparencyInitiativetomakemoreinformation availableforthepublic.However,publicbodieshaveexpressedconsiderable concernsabouttheimpactofimplementingtheactespeciallyintermsofcoststo thetaxpayer.RequestInitiativehasargued,basedontheevidenceprovided,that thecostsbothtocentralandlocalgovernmentarenolongerrising.Wesuggest thatconsiderationsofcostshavetobeweighedagainstthebenefitinensuring thepublicinterestisserved,includingtheobviousandcommonsense advantagesoftransparencyandaccountability. RequestInitiativealsosuggeststhatanewclearandunambiguousdefinitionof thepublicinterestneedstobeintroducedtotheact.Webelievethatmanyofthe contestedrequestsincludingthecomplaintstotheICO,appealstothe informationrightstribunalandcasesbeforethesupremecourtturnondisputes aboutthebalanceofpublicinterestagainstotherconsiderationsincluding confidentialityandprivacy.Aclearerdefinitionofthepublicinterestwould reducesuchconflictsandgreatlyreducecosts.Apublicinteresttestcouldalsobe introducedtoanyfeesregimetoensurepublicmoneyisnotspentonfrivolous requestswhileimportantpublicinterestrequestsstillresultindisclosure.We alsobelievethatapublicinteresttestshouldbeincludedwithinexemptions underSection40(2)oftheact,relatingtopersonaldata.Finally,wearguethat thepublicinterestispestservedwhereprivateintuitionsconductingpublic servicesandroleswithpublicmoneyshouldbecoveredbytheactbyamuch greaterdegreethaniscurrentlythecase,includingwithintheeducationsector.