Why the secrecy, Mr Javid? Tell us more about the McKinsey review

Despite a freedom of information request, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills refuses to share details of the funding review it has commissioned from the consultancy McKinsey.

Openness and transparency can save money, strengthen people's trust in government and encourage greater public participation in decision-making. Or so says the gov.uk website. But that doesn't seem to be the modus operandi in Sajid Javid's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Over the summer, rumours have been swirling (first published by the Guardian's Political Science blog) that the consultants McKinsey & Company have been called in by BIS to advise where cuts could be made to the department's budget, which includes 4.7 billion of annual investment in science, research and innovation. This is an internal review, and hasn't been officially announced, but we understand it is due to report in early September, in time to inform spending review negotiations.