Freedom of information
This page provides links to legal texts and useful web pages to use the rights of access to information and documents held by UK or EC public bodies, such as regulatory agencies.
UK, England, Wales and Northern Ireland public authorities
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides the public with rights of access to information held by UK public authorities. Despite being enacted in 2000 the act only came into force on 1 January 2005.
Rights of access are limited on cost grounds by The Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004. The Government has proposed additional limitations in late 2006. The consultation on this proposal closed in March 2007.
Scottish public authorities
For Scottish public authorities, the Freedom of Information Act (Scotland) 2002 applies instead.
The Scottish regulations on cost-based restrictions and fees for expensive requests are generally more generous than those under the UK act: the obligation to disclose applies when the estimate is less than £600 (£450 or £600 under the UK regulations) and the notional hourly rate for calculating this cost is capped at £15 (£25 under the UK regulations). In 2007 the Scottish Executive announced that it did not see a need for additional restrictions.
The Scottish Information Commissioner's website has an overview of other differences between the UK and Scottish regimes.
European Union institutions
Council Regulation 1049/2001 governs public access to documents held by European Union institutions. The European Commission initiated a review of these rules in April 2007.
The European Commission has a good document search and request function at:
UK and Scotland dispute resolution
Disputes about the application of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 are determined by the Information Commissioner. The Information Tribunal hears appeal against his decisions. Appeals from the Information Tribunal are to the High Court (England and Wales), the Court of Session (Scotland) or the High Court in Northern Ireland.
The Scottish Information Commissioner has similar functions in Scotland. Appeals from his decisions are to the Court of Session.
Disclosure logs
Many public authorities maintain logs on their websites of information disclosed under Freedom of Information which they consider likely to be of wider interest.
In Reckon's areas of interest, disclosure logs or equivalent resources are produced by the following bodies:
- BBC publication schemes and disclosures
- DCMS disclosure log
- DTI disclosure log
- Department for Transport disclosure log
- European Commission document register search
- HMRC disclosure log
- OFT disclosure log | competition enforcement disclosure log
- Ofwat disclosure log
The following bodies might have been expected to have a disclosure log but do not seem to (the link is to the most relevant page found on the site):
- Competition Commission
- Ofcom
- Ofgem (but see log on old website)
- Ofreg | publication scheme (16 pages, PDF)
Please complete or correct these lists if you find errors or omissions.
Other links
- UK Freedom of Information Blog
- Freedom of Information (Scotland) Web Log
- Campaign for Freedom of Information
- Government Freedom of Information site (DCA)
Additional links to useful resources are welcome.
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Last changed by Franck at 7:35 AM on Sunday 13 July 2008.