Freedom of information

The long-awaited Freedom of Information Act 2000 came fully into force on 1 January. The Act provides a general right of access to information held by public authorities. There are approximately 100,000 bodies that are considered public authorities, including all central and local government bodies, as well as doctors and dentists carrying out NHS treatment. Whilst the general right of access to information could apply to almost any information held by public authorities, there are a number of exclusions which allow a public authority to withhold and/or neither confirm nor deny it holds information requested, when, for example, there are national security implications.

The Act covers all UK-wide public authorities as well as English, Welsh and N. Ireland only ones. It will be enforced by the Information Commissioner. Public authorities with responsibilities for Scotland only are covered by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. There is an Information Commissioner in Scotland to enforce this Act.

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