Freedom of Information is to be rolled out to all government statutory boards, local authorities and publicly-owned companies including Manx Radio.

The FoI Act currently applies to all government departments, the Chief Constable and the Clerk of Tynwald’s Office.

But Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas will bring an order to Tynwald next week that aims to fulfill a government commitment to extend the legislation across all public services by 2018.

FoI will be rolled out to all statutory boards and offices from July this year, namely the Office of Fair Trading, the Financial Services Authority, Isle of Man Post Office, the Manx Utilities Authority, the Communications Commission, the Gambling Supervision Commission and the Public Sector Pensions Authority.

And from the same date, the Act will cover publicly-owned companies including Manx Radio, Laxey Glen Mills, e-llan Communications, Manx Cable Company, Isle of Man Film Ltd, Isle of Man Film (DOI) Ltd, Isle of Man Ltd, Isle of Man National Transport Ltd and PGT Ltd.

Then from January 1 2018 it will apply to all local authorities.

However, the order carves out an exemption relating to Manx Radio in terms of information held by the station for the purposes of art, journalism or literature.

It notes: ’Without this modification, the possibility would exist that another radio station could make a freedom of information request for example, for Manx Radio’s stories on a particular topic, or sources.’

In another move, an amendment to the Freedom of Information Act goes before the House of Keys tomorrow for its first reading.

This amending Bill seeks to extend the qualified exemption for the formulation and development of government policy beyond government departments to cover statutory boards, recognising that boards can make policy as well as departments.