Written Evidence submitted Ben Worthy, Birkbeck College, University of London (WRP 25)

Overview

• A small number of MPs use FOI regularly, though there may be wider ‘hidden’ use.
• WPQs draw on FOI as the basis for questions and information, but PQs are also used to find out about the workings of the FOI law itself.
• Artificial Intelligence is being used to assist in making FOI requests. Though use is relatively low, it creates more strain on an already pressurised system.

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The data draws on a project on FOI and Parliament at UCL’ s Constitution Unit, a published article from 2014 and follow up work in 2026[1]. The section on AI draws on two surveys of local government FOI officers in 2025 and 2026.

1.What is the interplay/overlap between FOI and PQs?

1.1 Both FOI and WPQs are about accessing information but can be ‘weaponised’ for political point scoring. Both are primarily used by the opposition.

1.2 FOI has the advantage of (i) a fixed, formal appeal system (ii) being much wider scope in terms of the breadth of bodies covered[2]. While a WPQ offers a short-term, quick means to get information, and forms a ‘ready made press release’, FOI is a long term ‘spade’ to dig out information or data, or build a bigger national picture. FOI has been used where a WPQ had been refused.

1.3 The question as to which is more effective is unclear. Owen Boswarva’s work comparing WPQs and FOIs over the government art collection found that FOI was more effective[3]. The IFG in 2016 found that WPQs were marginally more timely than FOI requests[4]

2.Use of FOI by MPs?

2.1 As with FOI generally, there are a small group of heavy MP users and a wider group of occasional users. One study of the UK in 2010 found that FOI requests from MPs made up 1.2 % of request to the Ministry of Defence, whereas a study in Australia found MPs and researchers accounted for around 5% of overall requests. If these percentages are converted to a per centage of overall requests for 2025, both are very small compared with the 80,000 plus WPQs.

     Estimated number of FOI requests by MPs based on 2025 FOI request volumes[5]

2.2 MPs using FOI can be broken down into several types:

(i) Individual use with around 20-30 MPs and perhaps 5-10 Peers as regular FOI users, and a wider group who do it occasionally (see below).

(ii) Collective/organised and co-ordinated use or pickup by political parties. FOI has become part of the ‘opposition toolkit’ with use at Westminster by the Conservatives on Diego Garcia[7], SDPL on council tax in the Northern Ireland Assembly[8], and both the PC and Conservatives in the Senedd.[9]

(iii) Picked up use by MPs, when they draw on FOI data from media or campaigners and constituents. This where the majority of FOI use and WPQ overlap happens.

(iv) Hidden use by MPs to local government and other bodies, especially over more personal constituency issues. Our research in 2014 found MPs using FOI for WPQs and in debates. More recently, a media search found East Thanet MP Polly Billington using FOI to examine Kent County Council’s ‘Doge-style audits’, Stella Creasy using it for the local police and then MP for Sefton Central Bill Esterson working with a campaign group over roads.

2.3 FOI was regularly mentioned in debates, and in 2014 around 75% of references were ‘about’ the workings of the law and 25% ‘using’ data obtained by it. Recent analysis revealed a similar pattern:

Analysis of sample of requests May 2025- May 2026[10]

Out of a total of 129 mentions, use broke down into the following categories:

2.4 A search of Hansard debates offer some further examples of use, including MPs using FOI to bodies such as the DVLA, police and Highways Agency, one Peer using FOI around the Assisted Dying Bill and multiple MPs picking up FOI data from requests made by the British Dental Association and British Parking Association.

2.5 Why are there so few users? MPs have many sources of information and are creatures of habit who prefer traditional methods. FOI can also take time, and, perhaps like journalists, MPs find FOI too slow a process when they require information quickly.

3. Are FOI requesters using AI?

3.1 Ascertaining whether FOI requesters are using AI is difficult. In 2025 and 2026 I ran two surveys of local government FOI officers in the UK. In 2025 respondents estimated that AI assisted requesters made up an average of 5% of all requests in 2025 and 11% in 2026. While these figures appear relatively low, FOI requests to local government are already high, with 3 or 4 requests going to local government for every one that goes to central government[11]. A conservative estimate would see around 200,000 requester per year to local councils.

3.2 There may also be greater hidden costs in AI assisted FOI requests. FOI officers spoke of how AI requests were often more complex and lengthier and take more time to deal with than ‘normal’ requests. AI was also being used for Internal Reviews and Appeals, which are inevitably more time-consuming processes. There could be a similar issue with increases in carding and WPQs.

3.3 One further ambiguity is around how AI is used. AI can be used to assist with requests and but also as a prompt for a request that otherwise would not have happened. The survey pointed to requests using AI to write them and tidy them up, which could improve the quality, but also as a prompt to make one, which could increase volumes[12].

June 2026