The Access to Information Central Clearing House was established by the UK Government in January 2005. The Central Clearing House was set up to ensure consistent application of the

Data Protection Act 1998 The Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA, c. 29) was an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom designed to protect personal data stored on Computer, computers or in an organised paper filing system. It enacted provisions from the European Union (EU) Da ...

, the

Freedom of Information Act 2000 The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that creates a public "right of access" to information held by public authorities. It is the implementation of freedom of information legislation ...

, and the Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) across Central Government. The Central Clearing House provides expert advice for cases referred to the Information Commissioner or

Information Tribunal The Information Tribunal was a tribunal non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom. It was established as the Data Protection Tribunal to hear appeals under the Data Protection Act 1984. Its name was changed to reflect its wider responsi ...

. Procedures exist to ensure that all requests which activate one of a number of 'triggers' are referred to the Clearing House.

Controversies

Critics have blamed the Central Clearing House for the rising number of appeals to the Information Commissioner and for 'being bent on blocking as many requests for information as it can'. In June 2020,

openDemocracy openDemocracy is an independent media platform and news website based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 2001, openDemocracy states that through reporting and analysis of social and political issues, they seek to "challenge power and encourage de ...

published an investigation that found that the House had blocked the release of information related to the

Contaminated blood scandal in the United Kingdom In the 1970s and 1980s, a large number of people – most of whom had haemophilia – were infected with hepatitis C and HIV, the virus that leads to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), as a result of receiving contaminated clotting f ...

. The files, eventually released in 2018, showed that the British government had privately admitted that some health authorities had been negligent. On 8 of June 2021 the

UK government ga, Rialtas a Shoilse gd, Riaghaltas a Mhòrachd , image = HM Government logo.svg , image_size = 220px , image2 = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg , image_size2 = 180px , caption = Royal Arms , date_es ...

lost a request for a freedom of information request appeal in regards to details about the Clearing house, the action was brought by

. In its defence the cabinet office had offered a Wikipedia article. Judge Hughes, concluding said that there was a “profound lack of transparency about the operation” that “might appear … to extend to ministers” and that the tribunal had been misled by the department, headed by

Michael Gove Michael Andrew Gove (; born Graeme Andrew Logan, 26 August 1967) is a British politician serving as Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations since 2021. He has been Member of Parli ...

. An investigation by

Politico Europe ''Politico Europe'' (stylized as ''POLITICO Europe'') is the European edition of the German-owned news organization ''Politico'' reporting on political affairs of the European Union. Its headquarters are located in Brussels with additional offices ...

published on 12 June 2021 found that the Clearing House kept a list of journalists that made FOI requests and used it to determine whether those requests would be granted, in breach of the rule that FOI requests should be evaluated applicant-blind. Politico's investigation also found that the House blocked requests even when the Trade Department recommended granting them. In September 2021,

Minister for the Cabinet Office The Minister for the Cabinet Office is a position in the Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom. The minister is responsible for the work and policies of the Cabinet Office, and since February 2022, reports to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lan ...

Chloe Smith Chloe Rebecca Smith (born 17 May 1982) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from September to October 2022. She previously served as Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health from 2021 to ...

announced that government would undertake an "assessment of the role of the Clearing House." The House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee is also undertaken its own review of the Clearing House. Later that month, openDemocracy further revealed that the Clearing House had interfered with release of information surrounding the

Grenfell Tower fire On 14 June 2017, a high-rise fire broke out in the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block of flats in North Kensington, West London, at 00:54 BST and burned for 60 hours. 72 people died, two later in hospital, with more than 70 injured and 223 escapin ...

Triggers for referring requests to Central Clearing House

The Government has published a list of triggers which will result in request being referred to the Central Clearing House these triggers fall under five main headings:List of ‘triggers’ for referral to the DCA Clearing House
Department of Constitutional Affairs *Prime ministerial and ministerial issues *Royal Household and honours *Procurement and efficiency *Cross-Whitehall issues *Ministerial veto certificates and security

References

{{reflist Freedom of information in the United Kingdom Political controversies in the United Kingdom