> * JULY DATE SET FOR NEW FOI GUIDANCE
>
> Detailed guidance for the public and private sector on implementing Freedom of Information Act requirements will be published by the Government next month.
>
> The new guidance is also due to advise public bodies on the new charging regime for access to public information, which under draft regulations was proposed to be modestly set at no more than 10 per cent of costs. Speaking in a Parliamentary debate last week, DCA junior minister Christopher Leslie dismissed recent reports that the Government was to drop this approach and introduce substantially higher fees. Mr Leslie described these claims as "very inaccurate" and gave reassurances to MPs, but acknowledged that an advisory group to the Government had "briefly considered" alternative charging options. "We remain firmly committed to ensuring that the public sector bears the substantial burden of the costs on freedom of information requests", the Minister said. The final regulations should be laid before Parliament "in about October", according to Mr Leslie, to allow the fees regime to be operational by the time the Act comes fully into force on 1st January.
>
> For the full debate, see: http://www.egovmonitor.com/links?127b
>
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