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“Freedom of Information has a key role to play in helping to deliver
greater transparency and accountability. These are key priorities in public
policy”, says Information Commissioner Christopher Graham in a message
to mark International Right to Know Day.
International Right to Know Day is designed to raise awareness of
individuals’ rights to access information held by public authorities and
gain better understanding of how public money is spent.
Christopher Graham says: “Freedom of Information shines a torch into
the dark corners of public service, identifying wasted money and
duplication of effort. Freedom of Information must have paid for itself
many times over in the beneficial impact it has had on reducing
unnecessary spending – and that contribution can only increase in the
years ahead.
“Organisations, whether public or private, need to invest in information
rights - whether it’s Freedom of Information, good records management,
or data protection. Where organisations fall down on their information
rights obligations
us working in the information rights field.”
Over the past 12 months, Decision Notices by the ICO have ordered the
disclosure of the Youth Justice Board Physical Control in Care Prison
Service manual, details of bonuses received by the City of London Police
Force and information relating to the amount the BBC spends on taxi
booking services.
“These headline successes by the ICO are only part of the story,” says Mr
Graham. “More and more, public authorities are volunteering to publish
information without being ordered to do so by the Information
Commissioner. That means less money is being wasted on long drawn
out investigations and appeals.”

If you need more information, please contact the ICO press office on 020
7025 7580 or visit the website at: www.ico.gov.uk

 
Notes to Editors

1. Links to Decision Notices noted:
 Youth Justice Board
http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2009/fs_50173181.pdf
 City of London Police – Police bonuses
http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2010/fs_50262907.pdf 
 BBC’s taxi spend
http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2010/fs_50259955.pdf

2. The Information Commissioner’s Office upholds information rights in the public
interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.

3. The ICO has specific responsibilities set out in the Data Protection Act 1998, the
Freedom of Information Act 2000, Environmental Information Regulations 2004
and Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003.

4. For more information about the Information Commissioner’s Office subscribe to
our e-newsletter at www.ico.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can find us on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/ICOnews

5. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides individuals or organisations with
the right to request official information held by a public authority. The
Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) provide access to environmental
information. The ICO’s policy on enforcing public access to official information and
the powers at its disposal are set out here.