Full disclosure

Not only are freedom of information laws “past their sell-by date”, they have never been fit for purpose (your report, 1 June).

Whenever I contact public authorities for information by telephone I have always found that it makes a big difference if I ask for the full name of the person to whom I am speaking, and also for the name and contact number of their immediate superior or line manager.

As a regular listener to the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, there is one aspect of freedom of information that I find particularly irksome, and that is when a major issue arises concerning a politician or department of state, and we are informed that “nobody from the department was available for comment’’. I believe that it should be mandatory for someone to appear on the programme to take part in discussion or comment.

These are public servants, for heaven’s sakes.

Doug Clark

Muir Wood Grove

Currie