Reacting to the announcement by Cabinet Minister Matt Hancock that there will be no legal changes to the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:
"It is heartening that the government has reiterated its pledge to encourage transparency in the public sector and it is also good news that the government has rejected the self-serving call from councils and local authorities to introduce a fee for each FoI request.
However, the TaxPayers' Alliance will continue to campaign to extend the remit of FoI to any organisation - public or private - which is in receipt of taxpayers' money as hard-pressed families have every right to know how their money is being spent. Recent cases illustrate the urgent need for much greater transparency in these organisations as well and sadly, today's announcement does not appear to address that issue."
TPA spokesmen are available for live and pre-recorded broadcast interviews via 07795 084 113 (no texts)