Thread by @CampaignFoI

The Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill has its 2nd reading in @UKHouseofLords today.

We are calling for peers to reverse ARIA's exemption from Freedom of Information.

cfoi.org.uk/2021/11/lords-…

#FOI #ARIA #opengovuk

The idea that complying with #FOI would be an obstacle to the UK becoming or remaining a ‘science superpower’ is utterly implausible. The obstacles to innovation by funding bodies have been discussed at length and do not include FOI.

All public bodies have important tasks to fulfil in the public interest & ltd resources. ARIA has no greater claim to avoid complying with #FOI than any other body. On the contrary, its budget, which outstrips that of many FOI bodies, provides compelling grounds for its inclusion

Where questions are raised about ARIA’s work, the very fact that it operates outside the statutory regime established to provide openness and accountability for public authorities is likely to undermine public confidence in its work.

The @ICOnews says "no compelling case has been made" for the exclusion of ARIA from the #FOI Act and it welcomes amendments during the passage of the Bill to bring ARIA under the scope of FOIA.

.@ICOnews: "It is vitally important the public can understand how and why public money has been allocated to specific programmes...Placing ARIA outside the scope of FOIA prevents the government from providing assurances about the use of public money.”