FOI may break lobbying secrecy
What do business and government say to each other? Many people want to know, some of them hoped that a freedom of information law would help them find out.
And it looks like we are going to find out more about this, following an important issued today by the Information Tribunal.
The Tribunal has ordered the government to release records of meetings held soon after the last general election between the and the Department for Trade and Industry (as it was then called). This material was requested by .
FoE are happy, but the CBI aren't. Its deputy director John Cridland said, according to Financial Times: 'I hope we aren't going to reach the point where people need to meet by the lake in St James's Park with a rolled-up copy of the Financial Times under their arm in dark glasses'.
When freedom of information came into force, some people reckoned the lobbying activities of large companies would be a major focus of FOI requests and disclosures. So far that hasn't happened much (athough there have been a few examples, especially under the Environmental Information Regulations). This Tribunal decision (which however may well be appealed against by the government) could set an important precedent in this area. You should buy shares now in the cafe by the lake in St James's Park.
A 
Comments
or to comment.