09 March 2026
Assistant Chief Minister Deputy Malcolm Ferey has welcomed the publication of a report about Jersey’s Freedom of Information, FOI, Law, calling it “the most comprehensive review since the Law was introduced.”
In September 2025, the Council of Ministers launched the review into how Jersey’s FOI Law was working, through a 12-week long public consultation.
Speaking about the FOI Law, Deputy Ferey said: “A decade after its introduction, the Freedom of Information Law remains a vital pillar of transparency and accountability in our Island. It allows Islanders to better understand how government decisions are made, how resources are used, and how public services operate, and it has helped strengthen trust between government and the public.
“However, despite its positive impact on openness and transparency, we are aware that the Law has attracted criticism for its scope and the occasional withholding of politically sensitive information.
“While the States Assembly approved proposition P.149 in 2014 to extend the Law further, progress has been limited. In 2025, the Council of Ministers launched the most comprehensive review of the FOI Law since its creation.
“Today, Monday 9 March, we are publishing the full Review Report, the Consultation Summary, and our 2025 FOI statistics. These materials provide a clear picture of the scale and complexity of FOI in Jersey, including the fact that government departments collectively manage more than one thousand requests each year.
“Sharing these reports demonstrates our commitment to openness and allows Islanders to see both the progress we are making and the challenges we are addressing as we modernise the FOI system.
“Our objective in undertaking the review has been clear: to strengthen and modernise the Law, ensuring that it remains fit for purpose in a rapidly changing world.
“The review makes a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening the operation of the FOI system from within, which I would encourage the next Council of Ministers to take forward as a priority.”
Key points made are:
- early operational improvements are already being delivered, including streamlined processes, more consistent decision-making, and a new centralised FOI knowledge library for officers
- development is underway on a new digital FOI portal to reduce administrative burden and enable faster, more robust responses
- the review reinforces that no expansion of FOI obligations to additional organisations should occur until internal improvements are complete and the system is working efficiently
- consultation feedback shows strong public support for transparency, but any expansion must be proportionate, practical, and supported with guidance and preparation time
- the review identifies significant opportunities to increase proactive publication of information, reducing unnecessary FOI requests and improving public understanding
- the next Council of Ministers has the opportunity to create a modern, sustainable FOI framework that enhances transparency while reducing administrative complexity.
As part of the part of the review, Islanders, Arm’s Length Organisations, States Owned Entities, and a broad range of other stakeholders were engaged with, to ensure that any recommendations for changes to the FOI Law were informed by real operational experience and public expectations.
The Reports:
Interim Review of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 Consultation Feedback Report
Freedom of Information (Jersey) 2011 Law Annual Statistics Report 2025
Review of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) 2011 Law
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