The government wants to cut the cost of freedom of information applications, but its proposals are being condemned as a back-door attempt to reduce the number made. In its response to the constitutional affairs select committee report 'Freedom of Information - one year on,' published this week, the Department for Constitutional Affairs said it is 'minded to include reading time, consideration time and consultation time' and 'aggregate' requests from 'legal persons', which would include law firms, when adding up the cost of an application. If the cost exceeds £600, the application can be refused. Committee chairman Alan Beith MP said the proposals have the potential to block important requests where it would be in the public interest to disclose information.