Derek McDowell (Labour)

There appears to be merit in the amendment. It is possible that a detailed application made to a relatively small section, in which two or three people are engaged, would substantially disrupt its work if staff required two or three days to deal with the information request. To refuse a request, the Act, as framed, would require a substantial degree of disruption to the whole Department or section, as opposed to requiring the time of two or three people with responsibility for a particular area for a few days.

The real problem does not appear to lie with the substance of the change, but with the possibility that it will create scope for substantial abuse. The provision provides a good excuse for a person in a Department to refuse a request. He or she could, for example, decide that his or her time is so valuable he or she cannot afford to take two days out of work to deal with an application. I support the amendment.