Tynwald to vote on FoI extension

Tuesday, 13 December 2016 06:34

Fielding answers cost £29,000 so far

Tynwald is to be asked to approve extending the government's Freedom of Information legislation to all remaining departments.

If members say yes, it will come in from the start of 2017.

From spring this year it has applied to just two areas, the Cabinet Office and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

Inquiries to the Cabinet Office have been ring-fenced, so requests could not be angled to other sections of government.

Seventy-seven requests have been dealt with so far, 55 to the Cabinet Office and 22 to DEFA.

The cost of staff time to provide answers has been £375 on average, a total bill of approaching £29,000.

There is currently no charge to the public for inquiries.

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