Watchdog criticises information costs

Scots may have to pay more for information

People in Scotland could be charged up to eight times more for access to government information than those south of the Border.

The Scottish Consumer Council has attacked the discrepancy as unfair and called for parity.

The SCC said applications under Scottish Freedom of Information legislation could cost up to £400 while the same process would cost an English applicant only £50.

Publishing the draft freedom of information bill in March, Justice Minister Jim Wallace said it would create a culture of openness.

Jim Wallace: Aims to banish culture of secrecy

The SCC pointed out that the Scottish legislation allows public sector bodies to charge the full marginal cost of any application where the cost is more than £100, while bodies in England may only charge 10% of the cost.

Mr Wallace has previously said the costs will be reviewed and that most applications will cost less than £300.

Grahame Miller, chairman of the SCC, told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that the possible costs of obtaining information would put many people off.

He said: "Depending on the type of information that you require, local authorities would argue they have overheads in getting the information and you as a consumer would have to make a contribution.

Draft bill

"But how can you truly cost that type of situation? If you want a truly open and independent freedom of information regime, then you could argue that there should be no cost at all."

Mr Miller said fees for obtaining information in England were capped at £50 and the SCC believed Scots should no be paying more than their counterparts down south.

"But we have to remember that this is just a draft bill and that most of the bill is excellent and in our view it is better than the one in England."