Fees proposals - Committee to hear from Information Commissioner

The Constitutional Affairs Committee will hold a further evidence session tomorrow on the government's FOI fees proposals.

A Committee press notice gives the details as follows:

Tuesday 6 March in The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

At 4.15 pm: Rob Evans, The Guardian Newspaper and Sarah Cutler, Assistant Director (Policy), Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID)

At 4.45 pm: Richard Thomas, Information Commissioner; Graham Smith, Deputy Information Commissioner and Jane Durkin, Assistant Information Commissioner

Announcing the session in an earlier press notice, Chairman of the Committee Rt Hon Alan Beith said "We are extremely concerned that the Government might go ahead with these changes, which are very widely opposed. That's why we are taking further evidence at this stage."

The Committee's report 'Freedom of Information - one year on' (HC 991) published in June last year concluded "We see no need to change the fees reglations. There appears to be a lack of clarity and some under-use of the existing provisions".