This page contains information for people interested in Freedom of Information policy. It explains the role of the DCA and the Access to Information Central Clearing House, and contains information about some of the ongoing work.
Access to Information Central Clearing House
As well as being a public authority in its own right, DCA is the government department with responsibility for policy on Freedom of Information (FOI) and Data Protection (DP).
This responsibility includes:
For more information about any of these issues, please contact Information Rights Division.
Contact details for Information Rights Division
The Access to Information Central Clearing House is also located within the DCA. The clearing house's role is to ensure consistency across central government in the way the Data Protection Act, the FOI Act, and the Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) are applied.
More information about the clearing house
We have established a panel of users to act as a sounding-board on how the Act is working in practice, and to inform the Government about their experiences of the Act.
The group will be provided with information on the operation of the Act and will be invited to provide feedback to us, which will help us ensure that FOI meets users' needs properly and effectively. Overseas experience has demonstrated that sustained and committed effort devoted to fostering an active and widespread FOI constituency amongst users helps to promote the long-term success of the Act.
The group is chaired by Michael Wills, and the members of the group are:
| Steve Bailey | JISC, University of Bristol |
|---|---|
| Paul Bettison | Leader Bracknell Forest Borough Council |
| Peter Bottomley, MP | |
| Judith Cullen | Head of Environmental Information Unit, DEFRA |
| Maurice Frankel | Campaign for Freedom of Information |
| Professor Robert Hazell | University College London Constitution Unit |
| John Hipwood | Chairman of the Press Lobby |
| Rosemary Jay | Pinsent Masons |
| Anthony Kenny | Intellect UK |
| Lord Lester of Herne Hill | |
| Austin Mitchell, MP | |
| Janet Monkman | Workforce Director at NHS East Midlands |
| Ian Readhead | Deputy Chief Constable, Hampshire Constabulary |
| Bob Satchwell | Society of Editors |
| Richard Thomas (observer) | Information Commissioner |
