This is a far-reaching law which gives members of the public the right to information about government, public services and how they are run.

The Freedom of Information Act was passed on 30th November 2000. It gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, sets out exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations on public authorities. Subject to the exemptions, any person, who makes a request to a public authority for that information, must be informed whether the public authority holds that information and if so, that information must be supplied subject to certain conditions.

Every public authority will be required to adopt and maintain a publication scheme setting out how it intends to publish the different classes of information it holds, and whether there is a charge for the information.

The UK is not unique in having a Freedom of Information law. Other countries in the European Community, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand also have adopted FOI.

Further information:

• Publication scheme
• General information