The Communities and Local Government Committee has today released a report highly supportive of the principle of greater devolution but is critical that the devolution negotiations to date have lacked transparency. In addition it calls for greater public engagement, before, during and following devolution agreements. CfGS, which has been campaigning for greater openess in devolution deals submitted both written and oral evidence to the committee.On the release of the report Jacqui McKinlay, Chief Executive said: “We are delighted with the committee’s report – it highlights the same concerns CfGS has been raising for a number of months. We are strong supporters ...
Over the summer the Government announced plans to set up a Commission to review the freedom of information regime.This could have been an opportunity for celebration. An update of the Freedom of Information Act to take account of the increased prevalence of technology in the storage and management of information would be well overdue. Changes to take account of the fact that increasingly, public services are delivered by bodies who are not subject to the Act would also be welcome. There would be a range of other opportunities to clean up and clarify key provisions in the interests of ...