Open data not a replacement for FOI - Shadow digital minister • The Register

"The government is 'deliberately conflating' the issue of open data with Freedom of Information to disguise draconian plans to roll back the legislation, the new shadow minister for digital Louise Haigh has told The Register. The Cabinet Office has championed the use of open data in the public sector, requiring all departments to release monthly updates on spend details of more than £25,000. However, Haigh said the rhetoric of open data and transparency is being used to obfuscate the real agenda to cut FOI, which will make government less transparent. In his July statement to Parliament about the creation of the new Commission on Freedom of Information, Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office Lord Bridges talked about open data explicitly in the opening paragraphs before finally touching on FOI in paragraph 5 ..."