More public bodies are to be opened up to public scrutiny under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), the Ministry of Justice announced today.

The MoJ said it will extend the scope of the FOI to make it easier for people to find and use information about the public bodies they rely on. Bodies such as the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Financial Services Ombudsman and higher education admissions body UCAS are to be brought within the scope of the FOI, as are companies wholly owned by public authorities.

Public and court records, ministerial correspondence and policy formulation are to become available after 20 years, which is 10 years sooner than under the present rules. The Information Commissioner’s Office – the body responsible for regulating the FOI and Data Protection Acts – is also to be given enhanced independence.

Justice minister Lord McNally said: ‘The public deserves a government that is open and accountable for its actions. I am delighted to announce this package of measures to extend the scope of the FOI, which will give people additional tools to find out whether thousands of UK bodies are acting in the public interest and providing value for money. But the work does not stop here – we will be carrying out a full review of the FOI to ensure it is still operating in the most effective way.’