Most public bodies will have to publish statistics about how quickly they respond to Freedom of Information requests under new government plans.

Public authorities that have more than 100 members of staff will be required to publish their FoI performance under new measures set out by the UK Open Government National Action Plan.

The plan also details proposals to give greater transparency on the pay and benefits received by senior staff at public bodies.

At present, FoI requests must be submitted to obtain such information in many cases.

The Action Plan reads: “We are committed to making government more transparent, so taxpayers can hold it to account both on how money is being spent and how decisions are made.

“This commitment will implement proposals in the Commission’s report. It will improve and increase the range of information available to the public without having to make requests for it and will improve the operation of the Act.

“Further steps will be taken to ensure transparency on issues such as FoI performance and senior pay and benefits across the whole public sector. The public should not have to resort to making FoI requests to obtain it.

“We intend to issue guidance to public authorities to set a higher standard for the publication of senior level pay and benefits by summer 2016.

“We will also issue guidance in the revised Section 45 Code of Practice to set a standard that public authorities with 100 full time equivalent employees or more should publish statistics on their FoI performance, to better hold public authorities to account.”

The Cabinet Office aims to consult on and issue a new Code of Practice on the issues by the end of 2016.