Scottish Public Information Forum to discuss strengthened access to information rights

CFoIS has published a draft Bill to amend the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FoISA) and is building support for its 20 amendments. Any legislative changes will impact designated bodies such as housing associations.

According to CFoIS, reform is essential to strengthen rights and duties and close the legal loopholes to ensure the public’s enforceable right to access information is robust. Despite efforts at the Scottish Parliament since 2017 and a post-legislative scrutiny report published in May 2020, the Scottish Government is still not persuaded that legal reform of FoISA is necessary. Drafting the Bill was, therefore, prompted by legislative inactivity, the organisation added.

Carole Ewart, convener of CFoIS said: “Institutional transparency and accountability enable public scrutiny and build trust. However the law on access to official information is outdated and reform is overdue. Legislation is needed as a matter of urgency to ensure rights and protected and there are robust consequences for hiding information. The onus is now on Parliament to agree the detail 20 years after Scotland’s first Freedom of Information Act was approved. CFoIS is keen to work with a cross party coalition of MSPs and with the Scottish Government to expedite reforms and this meeting will discuss the issues and the process.”

A key principle of FoISA is to provide community benefit with a presumption in favour of disclosure of public information. However, CFoIS said there is considerable room for improvement. The CFoIS Bill requires greater pro-active publication of the type of information people want and introduces a statutory FoI officer in each designated authority to monitor and ensure compliance. The reforms are designed to build back strong institutions for the public good and sustainable development, as well as to understand the right to information as a tool to deliver all human rights.

CFoIS welcomes feedback on the draft Bill to strengthen rights and enforcement powers.

The SPIF meeting will be held on February 28. Register for free here.