Access route to offical information finalised

Access to official information in the Isle of Man has taken a significant step forward.

It's after Tynwald finalised the route for Freedom of Information laws to be introduced here - 11 years after the UK did the same.

The transparency legislation is designed to give members of the public a right of access to information held by public authorities.

It will come into force from February in the current Cabinet Office and the Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture.

Other departments and local authorities will follow over the next two years.

Policy and Reform Minister John Shimmin said government had 'nothing to fear' from being subject to FoI requests and an unnecssary air of suspicion had been built among some staff and the general public.