“Some are More Open than Others”: Comparing the impact of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on local and central government in the UK
Worthy, Benjamin (2013) “Some are More Open than Others”: Comparing the impact of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on local and central government in the UK. Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice 15 (5), pp. 395-414. ISSN 1387-6988.
Abstract
This article examines the impact of freedom of information (FOI) on English local government and compares it with UK central government. It asks whether FOI has increased transparency and accountability and improved decision-making, public understanding, participation or trust. It also looks at whether FOI has affected local leadership, service delivery and partnership work. FOI has not had a “transformative” impact on local government. Local authorities are more transparent, supported by new online disclosure reforms. FOI has also increased accountability but only increased public understanding in a small way. It has had no effect on decision-making except in particularly sensitive issues. It has not increased participation and has had no general impact upon trust. Core activities remain unaffected though private contractors’ information and media use cause concern. The variable openness of institutions depends on context, culture and political leadership. The diversity is also driven by requesters’ varying motivations.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| School: | Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences |
| Research Centres and Institutes: | Birkbeck Centre for British Political Life |
| Depositing User: | Administrator |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Nov 2014 13:10 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Aug 2023 17:13 |
| URI: | https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/10933 |
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