Synopsis
This volume and its companion (HCP 63-II, ISBN 010293309X) are the last reports into complaints of breaches of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (the Code). On 1 January 2005 the Code was replaced by the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which is monitored by the Information Commissioner. A total of 40 cases are covered in these volumes. This Part 1 also contains the Ombudsman's review of departmental performance against the requirements of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) published by the Cabinet office in July 2003, which was a guide to how departments should deal with requests for information under the Code. In general the MoU was adhered to over the 19 months of its existence - though the Ombudsman reports some difficulties with the Cabinet Office itself - and it helped ensure that the Ombudsman's investigations were completed as swiftly as possible.