Does this:
The government is battling to ensure that estimates of the benefits and risks of identity cards remain secret.
The freedom of information watchdog ordered the Department of Work and Pensions to publish its findings about how the cards could fight ID fraud.
Now the department has decided to appeal against the information commissioner's ruling.
have anything to do with this?
“Many” cases brought to the MPs’ attention showed the 20-day response
time was not being met, either because public bodies lacked experience
or re-interpreted the code of practice.
Some requesters were told an internal review needs to be carried out,
meaning their requests were delayed indefinitely or for months on end,
so officials could assess “public interest factors.”...
However the MPs also questioned the role of a “clearing house” – set up
by Lord Falconer to advise on which cases can be referred by other
departments, to help in assessing whether information should be
released, or withheld.
While there is no evidence to prove the clearing house blocks requests
or causes delays to the release of information, there is,
paradoxically, no evidence to “refute those allegations,” the MPs found.
Charlie Falconer centralises the supervision of freedom of information requests in a 'clearing house' to ensure that the release of information is 'consistent'. The Information Commissioner is also criticised for the handling of complaints, due to the lack of resources.