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Deputy Data Protection Commissioner joins new Freedom of Information Appeals Panel

Published: 16 February 2022

The Office of the Data Protection Authority’s Deputy Commissioner Rachel Masterton has been appointed onto the newly formed panel to hear Freedom of Information Appeals, brought into being following the Scrutiny Management Committee’s policy letter of mid-2021.
 
She brings to the role her forensic attention to detail, extensive experience and knowledge of Information Law.
 
Rachel has a unique set of skills built up over time as both an information management practitioner and regulator.
 
She was Guernsey Police’s first dedicated Data Protection and Information Security Officer, before going on to join the small team which was instrumental in setting up the regulatory response to the island’s new data protection law in 2018.
Rachel commented,
 
“The importance of a regime of information publication and provision by government cannot be understated; the openness and transparency of policy and decision-making underpins democracy and engenders engagement and reassurance in the citizens of any jurisdiction that embraces such measures,”
 
“It is my firm belief that the knowledge that government matters are open to scrutiny not just by their peers but by the electorate the government represents leads to better and more robust decision-making, important at all times but particularly in times of austerity where it is vital the Islands 'pull together'.”
 
Freedom of Information (FOI) promotes government accountability and transparency in decision-making.
 
The appeal panel was set up on 1 January 2022 and aims to provide an independent, fair and transparent appeals process which is accessible to all.
 
It has been set up as part of a re-energising of the island’s code of practice based scheme for access to public information after the States Assembly voted against having a specific FOI law, in contrast to Jersey and the UK, who have had FOI legislation for many years. The code of practice was rebadged at the start of 2022 as the ‘Freedom of Information Code of Practice’, to better reflect its purpose.
 
The code encompasses all States of Guernsey Committees and service areas and can be applied to all requests for information, which should be made in writing under the FOI code.
 
“The original Code of Practice for Access to Public Information had much to offer, but was undermined by the lack of an independent appeals process,” said Rachel.
“The new Freedom of Information Appeals Panel is the Bailiwick’s opportunity to put that right and to reap the benefits of open and transparent government.”
Rachel joins Susan Gordon-Hardy, Chris Green, Ian Kirk and Simon Howlett on the Freedom of Information Appeals Panel, all of whom will serve on the panel from 2022 - 2026.

Find out more about the Freedom of Information Code here. 

This follows the announcement made by the President of the Scrutiny Management Committee on 16th February 2022.