Civil servants are continuing to block the release of a document laying out the financial implications of the Right to Buy extension – despite accepting the ‘strong public interest’ in releasing the information.
According to Inside Housing this week:
“Inside Housing sent a Freedom of Information request to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in April requesting modelling or analysis of extending the Right to Buy to housing associations
The department responded in May confirming the document exists, but refusing to release it as ministers need ‘private space’ to assess the policy.
After an appeal, DCLG on Thursday responded upholding the original decision to block the release of the document.
In a letter, the department’s appeal officer said: ‘I consider that [the public interest] is still a strong factor in favour of disclosure of the information requested, particularly given the impact that the Right to Buy policy will have on citizens.
‘I also consider that there is a strong public interest in the actions of a government being open to scrutiny by a free press.
‘However, there is a strong public interest in protecting the policymaking process. As noted previously, this information relates to a live and developing policy, and there is still a need for safe space in which the issue can be debated.’
The response said the department plans to publish a policy impact assessment ‘in due course’ which would ‘satisfy the public interest in openness and transparency’.
The government intends to extend the Right to Buy to housing associations, funding the discounts through the sale of high value council homes.
The Greater London Authority (GLA) revealed this week that it expects up to 4,500 council homes to be sold in London annually as a result.”