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Welsh MP calls for curbs on ‘bonkers’ FoI requests

A Welsh MP has called on the UK Government to tighten rules surrounding Freedom of Information requests in a bid to curb ‘bonkers’ requests.

Simon Hart, Conservative MP for Carmathen West and South , made the calls following a list of the ten most bizarre FOI request made last year.

He told WalesOnline, the website for newspaper group Media Wales, that some of the questions related to the star signs of criminals, werewolves and yetis and were ‘costing a fortune and wasting police time’.

He has been backed by Dyfed-Powys Chief Constable Ian Arundale who says that he is unhappy at having to make cuts elsewhere in the force whilst incurring the financial burden of answering bizarre requests.

The Leader of the House of Commons, Sir George Young, supported the calls and the Government announced a review of the FOI legislation earlier this month.