From Buyers Manual
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was first introduced in 2000 and the full provisions of the act came into force in 2005 making the Public Sector more open and accessible. It enables the public to gain a better understanding of why institutions make the decisions they do and how tax payers’ money is spent.
The FOIA creates a general right of access, on request, to information held by public authorities including The National Archives (Schedule 1 of the act sets out a long list of the authorities covered by the act). It allows anyone to ask any public body for all the information they have on any subject you choose. The organisation must provide the information within 20 working days, unless there is a good reason such as the information is particularly complex or large. If the public institution needs more time then they must write stating why and say when they will be able to respond.
Everyone can make a request for information regardless of age, nationality or location. Most requests are free, some bodies may ask for a small charge for photocopies or postage.
direct.gov.uk
Requests for information can be made verbally or in writing. Larger public authorities may even have a designated enquiry line, email or postal address.
Over 100,000 Public Sector Bodies are covered by the act, which include:
- Government departments and local assemblies
- Local authorities and councils
- Health trusts, hospitals and doctors’ surgeries
- Schools, colleges and universities
- Publicly funded museums
- The police
- Non-departmental public bodies, committees and advisory bodies
The Act applies to England, Wales, Northern Ireland and to information held by UK-wide authorities. It only applies to authorities in Scotland when they are exercising UK-wide functions.
However, there are some exemptions where there are grounds for the public body to withhold information. These exemptions are clearly defined in the act itself, are limited in number and are usually used where some harm might result if the information were to be released.
bbc.co.uk
