Expanding the Freedom of Information Law (FOI)

​Request

A.

What progress has been made to date on expanding the Freedom of information Law to cover government owned or controlled companies such as the Jersey Development Company, JT, Jersey Post and others?

B.

What if any were the main concerns raised by those companies in the expansion of the law?

C.

It is now a year since the proposition by the Deputy of Grouville was adopted by States members. In it she called on the Chief Minister to bring the legislation as soon as practically possible. When are we likely to see a proposition brought before the states by the Chief Minister to expand the legislation to those companies previously outlined?

Response

A.

Due to the administrative workload in the first full year of operation of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law (the law), there was a delay in obtaining advice on the request to expand the law to cover government owned or controlled companies (the entities).

Advice was received during the second half of 2015, but due to internal restructuring and staff changes within the Freedom of Information team, work has only recently recommenced on the expansion of the Law.

B.

It is envisaged that consultation with the entities will take place during the first quarter of 2016.

C.

Due to the complexity of some of the entities and the volume of work already in progression relating to the law, it is not expected that the legislation will be extended to the entities before the first quarter of 2017.