An information tribunal judge has unexpectedly refused consent for the Department of Work and Pensions to appeal his ruling that four reports on the Universal Credit programme be published. The ruling undermines the DWP’s claim that there would be “chilling effect” if the reports were published. The judge’s decision, which is dated 25 April 2014, means the DWP will have to publish the reports under the FOI Act - or it has 28 days to appeal the judge’s refusal to grant consent for an appeal. The DWP is certain to appeal again. It has shown that money is no object when it comes to funding appeals to keep the four reports secret. In 2012 John Slater, who has 25 years experience working in IT and programme and project management, had requested the UC Issues Register, Milestone Schedule and Risk Register. Also in 2012 I requested a UC project assessment review by the Cabinet Office’s Major Projects Authority. Last month the “first-tier” information tribunal ruled that all four reports should be published. It rejected the DWP’s claim that disclosure would inhibit the candour and boldness of civil servants who contributed to the reports – the so-called chilling effect. ukcampaign4change/2014/04/30/judge-refuses-dwp-leave-to-appeal-ruling-on-universal-credit-reports/ DA
Posted on: Wed, 30 Apr 2014 17:00:58 +0000
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