Page 251 - Law and the Media

Law and the Media
Internal guidelines concerning dealings with the public
Explanatory material on the dealings by government departments or public bodies with the
public, including any relevant rules, procedures, internal guidance to officials, and similar
administrative manuals, are available except where publication could prejudice any matter
that should be kept confidential under Part II of the Code.

Reasons for administrative decisions
Reasons for administrative decisions are generally made available to those who are affected
by them. There are a few areas where well-established convention or legal authority limits
the commitment under the Code to give reasons – for example, decisions on citizenship
applications under Section 44(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981, decisions on merger and
monopoly cases, or whether to take enforcement action.

Information under the Citizen’s Charter concerning public services
The Code provides access to full information concerning how public services are run, how
much they cost, who is in charge, and which complaints and redress procedures are available.
It also provides full information where possible concerning which services are provided,
which standard of service can be expected, targets and the results achieved.

The Code also provides a framework for requests for information. There is no requirement
under the Code that pre-existing documents, as distinct from information, must be made
available on request. In addition, the Code does not require a government department or
public body to acquire information it does not possess, nor to provide information that is
already published or provided as part of an existing service.

14.2.3 Limits on access to information

Part II of the Code sets out several categories of information that will be disclosed unless the
harm likely to arise from disclosure would outweigh the public interest in making the
information available. The categories are:

Defence, security and international relations
Internal discussion and advice
Communications with the Royal household
Law enforcement and legal proceedings
Immigration and nationality
Effective management of the economy and collection of tax
Effective management and operations of the public service
Public employment, public appointments and honours
Voluminous or vexatious requests
Publication
Research, statistics and analysis
Privacy of an individual
214