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Written question asked by Lord Patten (Conservative) on Monday, 26 March 2018, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 11 April 2018. It was answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott (Conservative) on Thursday, 29 March 2018 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Charities: Freedom of Information

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Young of Cookham on 14 September 2017 and 21 March (HL1315 and HL6165), what conclusions they have drawn from keeping the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as it relates to charities under constant review; and what plans they have to launch a formal consultation.

Answer

A small number of public authorities subject to the FOI Act are also registered as charities. Other charitable bodies do not meet the conditions for inclusion within Schedule 1 of the FOI Act.

In 2015, the Cabinet Office established an Independent Commission to look into the workings of FOI. The Independent Commission reported in March 2016 and on the issue of charities and extension of FOI, it concluded that “the Commission had not received persuasive evidence that the Act should be extended to charities in their own right.”

At present, the Government is not persuaded of the need to amend the legislation to include all charities and there are no plans to undertake further consultations at this time.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL6649
Session
2017-19
Related items
Charities: Freedom of Information
Thursday, 14 September 2017
Written questions
House of Lords
Charities: Freedom of Information
Wednesday, 21 March 2018
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Charities Freedom of information
Legislation
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk