ABSTRACT
The most important value associated with freedom of information is the need for the citizen to understand as fully as possible the working of government, in order to render it accountable. One of the main concerns of the questions in this chapter is therefore the methods employed by governments to ensure that official information cannot fall into the hands of those who might place it in the public domain, and with methods of preventing or deterring persons from publication when such information has been obtained. This chapter also places a strong emphasis on the choices that were made as to the release of information relating to public authorities – not only to central Government – in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (in force 2005).
