Concerns over Access to Public information to be investigated

Monday 25 February 2019

Some of the reasons given by the States for denying API requests have 'not been entirely justified' and have prompted a Scrutiny review of the process.

Access to Public Information is one of four areas that the Scrutiny Management Committee will conduct major reviews of during the remainder of this States term.

The other reviews will focus on the recruitment and retention policies for key workers, the allocation of money for capital projects and the efficiency of Aurigny's business model.

"The over-arching aim of these reviews is to try and make the States better and if it ruffles a few feathers in the States, then so be it."

Scrutiny President Chris Green said the need for greater transparency across the States should not be overlooked. 

"The Code of Practice on Access to Public Information was brought in in 2013 and was subject to some improvements in 2016, but generally we want to know how that code has been working and whether it is satisfying the public’s need for greater transparency in the States.

"A number of matters have been brought to our attention about this not working that well and in particular one of the concerns has been the lack of an independent application process if your application is rebuffed."

Deputy Green, right, said his committee's review would investigate some of the reasons given for not disclosing information.

He continued: "Information should be made public unless there is a very good reason not to do so. There is a concern that maybe some of the exemptions have been used in a way that is not entirely justified, but we want to see the facts and evidence to see if that is borne out in reality."

Finding and keeping key workers, such as teachers, nurses and police, is one of the 'perennial difficulties' that the States faces, said Deputy Green. 

"We need to have an assessment of the recruitment and retention policies of the States for key workers, how those policies are working and how they can be improved to keep public services going.

"We know that P&R have been putting in place some changes for how they can do that and we will follow-up on those."

Another concern has been the way that the States allocates funds for capital projects and the publication of figures and estimates before going out to tender. 

The review will look at whether there are better ways of managing this, with Deputy Green citing the waste strategy as an example of a States project which spiralled in cost over the years. 

He concluded:  "The over-arching aim of these reviews is to try and make the States better and if it ruffles a few feathers in the States, then so be it."