Ben Worthy article on MPs and the Freedom of Information Act published online
A Powerful Weapon in the Right Hands? How Members of Parliament have used Freedom of Information in the UK
Article link:
http://pa.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/12/20/pa.gss091.abstract.html?papetoc
Abstract
This article examines the extent to which the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) is used by members of the UK Parliament to hold the government to account, compared with the experience in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Ireland. As with other accountability mechanisms, FOI can be used for a range of issues. It is primarily a tool of opposition and can be a versatile weapon, useful in the right time and place. However, it does not significantly enhance accountability and remains a minority pursuit. This is because FOI takes time, members are creatures of habit and it is useful only in particular ways.