ICO orders the release of confidential papers on the Worker Registration Scheme

Press release
13 August 2008

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has ordered the release of Cabinet Office papers prepared for a Ministerial Working Group meeting in October 2005 which took the decision to continue the Accession States Worker Registration Scheme (WRS). The ICO has ruled that releasing the information under the Freedom of Information Act would improve public understanding of the controversial decision.
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The Assistant Information Commissioner considers that there is a public interest in disclosing the information as the Government's decision on this matter is still considered to be controversial for a variety of reasons, including the impact on immigration and the UK labour market. In his view, the controversy stems, in part, from a lack of public engagement in the decision-making process.

Full press release.