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Treasury refuses to publish BBC funding deal details despite FoI request Treasury refuses to publish BBC funding deal details despite FoI request
(1 day later)
Chris Bryant, the shadow culture secretary, has threatened to turn to the Information Commissioner to get the full details of the BBC’s shotgun licence fee deal revealed after the government admitted it has more documents but refused to make them public.Chris Bryant, the shadow culture secretary, has threatened to turn to the Information Commissioner to get the full details of the BBC’s shotgun licence fee deal revealed after the government admitted it has more documents but refused to make them public.
Last month, Bryant forced the publication of the licence fee deal letter from chancellor George Osborne and culture secretary John Whittingdale to BBC director general Tony Hall.Last month, Bryant forced the publication of the licence fee deal letter from chancellor George Osborne and culture secretary John Whittingdale to BBC director general Tony Hall.
Bryant also filed a Freedom of Information request to the Treasury asking for full details of the financial assessment of the impact of the £750m deal for the BBC to pay for TV licences for over-75s, and all correspondence with the BBC regarding the deal.Bryant also filed a Freedom of Information request to the Treasury asking for full details of the financial assessment of the impact of the £750m deal for the BBC to pay for TV licences for over-75s, and all correspondence with the BBC regarding the deal.
In the FoI response to Bryant, seen by the Guardian, the Treasury admits that it “does hold information in scope of your request” but cited exemptions under the act to withhold making that information public.In the FoI response to Bryant, seen by the Guardian, the Treasury admits that it “does hold information in scope of your request” but cited exemptions under the act to withhold making that information public.
“The government has something to hide,” said Bryant. “The public should know what the chancellor said to the BBC and what assessments he made before gutting their finances and destabilising the BBC.”“The government has something to hide,” said Bryant. “The public should know what the chancellor said to the BBC and what assessments he made before gutting their finances and destabilising the BBC.”
The Treasury admitted that only “some” of the correspondence between the BBC and the government has to date been published.The Treasury admitted that only “some” of the correspondence between the BBC and the government has to date been published.
“I can confirm that the department holds further relevant information,” said Adam Goodwin of the Information Right Unit at the Treasury, responding to Bryant’s FoI request. “However, we consider that some of the remaining material we have identified engages the exemption … under the Freedom of Information Act.” “I can confirm that the department holds further relevant information,” said a Treasury official responding to Bryant’s FoI request. “However, we consider that some of the remaining material we have identified engages the exemption … under the Freedom of Information Act.”
Goodwin acknowledges the importance of “transparency in terms of being accountable and increasing trust with the electorate”. The official acknowledged the importance of “transparency in terms of being accountable and increasing trust with the electorate”.
However, he ultimately refuses to make any further details public, arguing exemptions in the act covering development of government policy and also commercial interests.However, he ultimately refuses to make any further details public, arguing exemptions in the act covering development of government policy and also commercial interests.
“Good government depends on good decision-making and this needs to be based on the best advice available and there may be a deterrent effect on stakeholders who might be reluctant to provide advice because it might be disclosed,” he said. “We therefore consider that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.”“Good government depends on good decision-making and this needs to be based on the best advice available and there may be a deterrent effect on stakeholders who might be reluctant to provide advice because it might be disclosed,” he said. “We therefore consider that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.”
Goodwin also said that commercial rivals to the BBC would be less likely to provide the Treasury with “commercially sensitive information” if it was made public, which would “undermine the ability of the department to fulfil its role”. The official also said that commercial rivals to the BBC would be less likely to provide the Treasury with “commercially sensitive information” if it was made public, which would “undermine the ability of the department to fulfil its role”.
“Backroom deals and hidden letters do nothing to remove the doubt that this government are plotting a campaign to undermine the very future of the BBC and the popular programmes people love,” said Bryant.“Backroom deals and hidden letters do nothing to remove the doubt that this government are plotting a campaign to undermine the very future of the BBC and the popular programmes people love,” said Bryant.
The Treasury put forward the same argument for why it would not reveal any further details of the financial assessment of the impact on the public pursue of the BBC taking on the £750m burden of funding free TV licences for over-75s.The Treasury put forward the same argument for why it would not reveal any further details of the financial assessment of the impact on the public pursue of the BBC taking on the £750m burden of funding free TV licences for over-75s.
“We consider that the remaining material we have identified engages the exemption … under the Freedom of Information Act,” he said. “In this case we consider that disclosing the remaining internal analysis would severly prejudice the ability of the government to formulate robust policy.”“We consider that the remaining material we have identified engages the exemption … under the Freedom of Information Act,” he said. “In this case we consider that disclosing the remaining internal analysis would severly prejudice the ability of the government to formulate robust policy.”
Bryant said that he will formally challenge the Treasury’s decision to reject making more documents publicly available, the first step of which is to request the department to examine its decision again.Bryant said that he will formally challenge the Treasury’s decision to reject making more documents publicly available, the first step of which is to request the department to examine its decision again.
If this proves fruitless, Bryant intends to take the issue to the Information Commissioner to attempt to force publication.If this proves fruitless, Bryant intends to take the issue to the Information Commissioner to attempt to force publication.
“I’ll be challenging this decision formally because the public have a right to know what the government is up to in its war on the BBC. If Osborne or Whittingdale want to cut the BBC then they should be open about their reasons and arguments and let licence fee payers decide if that really is in the best interests of the country,” he said.“I’ll be challenging this decision formally because the public have a right to know what the government is up to in its war on the BBC. If Osborne or Whittingdale want to cut the BBC then they should be open about their reasons and arguments and let licence fee payers decide if that really is in the best interests of the country,” he said.