Blog post on when a minister steps in to block a FOI response

[RichardTaylor]

• Note where the law enables/requires ministers to take decisions in relation to the handling of FOI requests.

• List some examples of ministerial decisions in respect of specific FOI requests on WhatDoTheyKnow.

• Let's use the request tag minister for where a minister has intervened in, or taken a decision in relation to, a specific request.

• We can search WhatDoTheyKnow for other examples. Focusing on more recent examples might be good.

• Are there published statistics on the use of the relevant exemptions? Can we identify the departments where ministers are using their FOI request blocking powers more than others?

Example cases:

• There is a surprising refusal at: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/cif_grant_funding_bids#incoming-1742497 A minister made the decision not to release information about a school seeking funding for a fence and pavilion!

• There is a ministerial refusal at https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/no_outsiders_6#incoming-1356600

Policy ideas:

• Should the specific minister be identified in these cases?
• Should a copy of the signed ministerial decision be published?
• Should the recommendation to the minister be published?

Material relating to case handling could be obtained via a "meta" FOI request.