View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
November 2, 2015

Survey finds half of civil servants want charges imposed for Freedom of Information requests

By William Turvill

Half of civil servants support introducing fees for Freedom of Information, according to the findings of a new survey. (Picture: Shutterstock)

The study, by Civil Service World/Dods Research, also found some senior civil servants believe journalists, but not members of the public, should pay.

The survey has been conducted at a time when the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information, set up by the Government in July, is considering the introduction of fees to the FoI Act and whether cabinet ministers should be allowed to veto the publication of sensitive material as they have done in the past. 

In response, the Society of Editors, with support from Press Gazette, has launched the Hands Off FoI campaign. A supporting petition, set up by Press Gazette, has so far been signed by just short of 1,500 individuals.

Asked "Would you support the introduction of charging for the release of information under FoI rules?", 50 per cent of 4,420 civil servants said yes, 37 per cent said no, 12 per cent they did not know and 1 per cent said they would prefer not to say.

Overall, Civil Service World/Dods Research surveyed 4,435 civil servants. Some 4,425 answered the question "Do you believe your department has adequate resources to properly deal with Freedom of Information requests?", with 42 per cent saying yes, 20 per cent saying no and 38 per cent saying they did not know.

Participants were also asked to leave comments in the questionnaire. One senior grade 7 civil servant in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “Too often the FoI act is used to support lazy journalism or inquisitive academics…

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

"I think that FoI requests by members of the public should remain free, but there should be a 'corporate' charge for journalists and other organisations.

“The money raised could be used to help fund specialist units in government to deal with FoI requests, thereby releasing the pressure on front-line officers."

A grade 7 Home Office policy official is quoted as saying: "We should be able to charge for requests from the media to do their work for them."

And a senior executive officer at the Department for Work and Pensions said: "You must let people have access to official information in the interests of transparency, but not tie up huge amounts of resources to answer 'fishing' expeditions trying to dig up dirt without any direction or possible frivolous requests."

Topics in this article : ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network