Understanding government transparency mechanisms : a qualitative study of parliamentary questions and freedom of information requests

Abstract

This study examines the effectiveness of Parliamentary Questions (PQs) and Freedom of Information (FOI) requests as transparency mechanisms in Malta’s democratic governance. It aims to assess their roles in promoting accountability, identify procedural challenges, and explore potential correlations between the two tools. A mixed-methods approach is employed, combining quantitative analysis of publicly available PQ and FOI data (2017–2022) with qualitative content analysis. The study leverages frameworks like Principal-Agent Theory; Good Governance (UNDP); and the Transparency-Accountability-Participation (TAP) model to evaluate institutional responsiveness and compliance with Malta’s Standing Orders and FOI Act. PQs demonstrated higher response rates (58.7% for the Office of the Prime Minister; 81.3% for Local Councils) but faced delays for complex queries. FOI requests revealed significant transparency gaps, with refusal rates peaking at 79% in some ministries. Systemic issues include bureaucratic resistance, inconsistent exemptions, and procedural ambiguities. This is the first study to compare PQs and FOI requests in Malta, offering empirical insights into their interplay and proposing innovative reforms using the SCAMPER model.