The Council of Ministers has agreed to a full impact assessment being undertaken to clarify the cost of introducing Freedom of Information legislation, Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK confirmed today (Friday November 4, 2011). The Council approved the move yesterday, along with a strengthening of the existing Code of Practice on Access to Government Information to make the recommendations of the independent Code Commissioner binding on Government Departments. The Chief Minister commented: ‘As I said in the House of Keys this week, it would be irresponsible to introduce a Freedom of Information Act in the current financial climate without first being clear about how much it is likely to cost in terms of public resources. ‘The Bill introduced in the previous House was not subject to a comprehensive impact assessment and there have been various estimates of the price of FOI. At a time of potential cuts in spending on public services we really do need to know what it will cost so that we can properly prepare and plan this legislation.’ Mr Bell added: ‘The impact assessment is being given high priority and I am committed to making a statement on progress by the February 2012 sitting of Tynwald.’ He went on: ‘In the meantime we still have the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and I am pleased that the Council of Ministers has agreed with me that as an interim measure this should be significantly strengthened to make the recommendations of the Code Commissioner, the High Bailiff, binding on all Government Departments.’ ENDS