Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
2002 asp 13 · Enacted 28 May 2002 · Extends to Scotland
An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision for the disclosure of information held by Scottish public authorities or by persons providing services for them; and for connected purposes.
The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament was passed by the Parliament on 24th April 2002 and received Royal Assent on 28th May 2002.
Contents
- Part 1: Access to information held by Scottish public authorities
- Right to information
- 1General entitlement
- 2Effect of exemptions
- 3Scottish public authorities
- 4Amendment of schedule 1
- 5Further power to designate Scottish public authorities
- 6Publicly-owned companies
- 7Public authorities to which Act has limited application
- 7AReports on section 5 power
- 8Requesting information
- 9Fees
- 10Time for compliance
- 11Means of providing information
- 12Excessive cost of compliance
- 13Fees for disclosure in certain circumstances
- 14Vexatious or repeated requests
- 15Duty to provide advice and assistance
- Responses to request
- 16Refusal of request
- 17Notice that information is not held
- 18Further provision as respects responses to request
- Content of certain notices
- 19Content of certain notices
- Review of refusal, etc.
- 20Requirement for review of refusal etc.
- 21Review by Scottish public authority
- Records transferred to the Keeper of the Records of Scotland
- 22Special provisions relating to records transferred to Keeper
- Publication schemes
- 23Publication schemes
- 24Model publication schemes
- Part 2: Exempt Information
- 25Information otherwise accessible
- 26Prohibitions on disclosure
- 27Information intended for future publication
- 28Relations within the United Kingdom
- 29Formulation of Scottish Administration policy etc.
- 30Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs
- 31National security and defence
- 32International relations
- 33Commercial interests and the economy
- 34Investigations by Scottish public authorities and proceedings arising out of such investigations
- 35Law enforcement
- 36Confidentiality
- 37Court records, etc.
- 38Personal information
- 39Health, safety and the environment
- 40Audit functions
- 41Communications with Her Majesty etc. and honours
- Part 3: The Scottish Information Commissioner
- 42The Scottish Information Commissioner
- 43General functions of Commissioner
- 44Recommendations as to good practice
- 45Confidentiality of information obtained by or furnished to Commissioner
- 46Laying and publication of reports
- 46AStrategic plans
- Part 4: Enforcement
- 47Application for decision by Commissioner
- 48When application excluded
- 49Commissioner’s decision
- 50Information notices
- 51Enforcement notices
- 52Exception from duty to comply with certain notices
- 53Failure to comply with notice
- 54Powers of entry and inspection
- 55No civil right of action against Scottish public authority
- 56Appeal against notices under Part 4
- Part 5: Historical records
- 57The expression “historical record”
- 58Falling away of exemptions with time
- 59Power to vary periods mentioned in sections 57 and 58
- Part 6: Codes of practice
- 60Code of practice as to functions under this Act
- 61Code of practice as to the keeping, management and destruction of records
- Part 7: Miscellaneous and supplemental
- 62Power to make provision relating to environmental information
- 63Disclosure of information to Scottish Public Services Ombudsman or to Information Commission
- 64Power to amend or repeal enactments prohibiting disclosure of information
- 65Offence of altering etc. records with intent to prevent disclosure
- 65ATime limit for proceedings
- 66Saving for existing powers of disclosure
- 67Protection from actions for defamation
- 68Scottish Parliament and Scottish Administration
- 69Exercise of rights by children
- 70Amendment of Public Records (Scotland) Act 1937
- 71Amendment of Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002
- 72Orders and regulations
- 73Interpretation
- 74Giving of notice etc.
- 75Commencement
- 76Short title
- Schedule 1: Scottish Public Authorities
- Part 1: Ministers, The Parliament
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- Part 2: Non Ministerial Office Holders In The Scottish Administration
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- 7Paragraph 7
- 7ZAParagraph 7ZA
- 7AParagraph 7A
- 7AAParagraph 7AA
- 7BParagraph 7B
- 8Paragraph 8
- 9Paragraph 9
- 10Paragraph 10
- 11Paragraph 11
- 12Paragraph 12
- 12AParagraph 12A
- 13Paragraph 13
- 14Paragraph 14
- 15Paragraph 15
- 16Paragraph 16
- 17Paragraph 17
- 18Paragraph 18
- 18AParagraph 18A
- 18AAParagraph 18AA
- 18BParagraph 18B
- 19Paragraph 19 Repealed
- Part 3: Local Government
- 20Paragraph 20
- 21Paragraph 21
- 22Paragraph 22
- 23Paragraph 23
- 24Paragraph 24
- Part 4: The National Health Service
- 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
- 26Paragraph 26
- 27Paragraph 27
- 27AParagraph 27A
- 28Paragraph 28 Repealed
- 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
- 29AParagraph 29A
- 30Paragraph 30
- 31Paragraph 31
- 32Paragraph 32
- 32AParagraph 32A Repealed
- 32BParagraph 32B Repealed
- 32CParagraph 32C Repealed
- 33Paragraph 33
- 34Paragraph 34
- 35Paragraph 35
- 35AParagraph 35A
- 36Paragraph 36 Repealed
- 37Paragraph 37
- 38Paragraph 38 Repealed
- 39Paragraph 39
- 40Paragraph 40 Repealed
- 41Paragraph 41
- 42Paragraph 42 Repealed
- 43Paragraph 43 Repealed
- 44Paragraph 44 Repealed
- 45Paragraph 45
- 46Paragraph 46 Repealed
- Part 5: Educational institutions
- 47Paragraph 47
- 48Paragraph 48
- 49Paragraph 49
- Part 6: Police
- 50Paragraph 50
- 50AParagraph 50A
- 50BParagraph 50B
- 51Paragraph 51 Repealed
- 52Paragraph 52 Repealed
- 52AParagraph 52A Repealed
- Part 7: Others
- 53Paragraph 53
- 54Paragraph 54 Repealed
- 55Paragraph 55 Repealed
- 56Paragraph 56 Repealed
- 57Paragraph 57
- 58Paragraph 58
- 59Paragraph 59
- 60Paragraph 60
- 61Paragraph 61
- 61AParagraph 61A
- 61AAParagraph 61AA
- 61BParagraph 61B
- 62Paragraph 62 Repealed
- 62ZZZAParagraph 62ZZZA
- 62ZZAParagraph 62ZZA
- 62ZAParagraph 62ZA
- 62AParagraph 62A Repealed
- 62BParagraph 62B Repealed
- 62ZZCParagraph 62ZZC
- 62ZCParagraph 62ZC
- 62CParagraph 62C
- 62DParagraph 62D
- 63Paragraph 63
- 63AParagraph 63A
- 63BParagraph 63B
- 64Paragraph 64 Repealed
- 65Paragraph 65 Repealed
- 66Paragraph 66
- 66AParagraph 66A
- 67Paragraph 67
- 67ZAParagraph 67ZA
- 67ZBParagraph 67ZB
- 67AParagraph 67A Repealed
- 67BParagraph 67B
- 68Paragraph 68 Repealed
- 68ZAParagraph 68ZA
- 68AParagraph 68A
- 69Paragraph 69
- 70Paragraph 70
- 71Paragraph 71 Repealed
- 71AParagraph 71A
- 72Paragraph 72
- 72AParagraph 72A
- 73Paragraph 73
- 74Paragraph 74
- 74AParagraph 74A
- 75Paragraph 75
- 75ZAParagraph 75ZA Repealed
- 75AParagraph 75A Repealed
- 75ABParagraph 75AB
- 75ACParagraph 75AC
- 75ADParagraph 75AD
- 75BParagraph 75B
- 75BAParagraph 75BA
- 75CParagraph 75C
- 76Paragraph 76 Repealed
- 76AParagraph 76A
- 77Paragraph 77
- 77AParagraph 77A
- 78Paragraph 78 Repealed
- 79Paragraph 79 Repealed
- 79AParagraph 79A
- 79BParagraph 79B
- 80Paragraph 80
- 80AAParagraph 80AA
- 80BParagraph 80B
- 80CParagraph 80C
- 81Paragraph 81 Repealed
- 82Paragraph 82 Repealed
- 83Paragraph 83
- 84Paragraph 84
- 85Paragraph 85
- 85ZAParagraph 85ZA
- 85ZAAParagraph 85ZAA
- 85ZBParagraph 85ZB
- 85AParagraph 85A
- 85BParagraph 85B Repealed
- 86Paragraph 86 Repealed
- 87Paragraph 87 Repealed
- 88Paragraph 88 Repealed
- 89Paragraph 89 Repealed
- 90Paragraph 90
- 90AParagraph 90A
- 91Paragraph 91
- 92Paragraph 92
- 92AParagraph 92A
- 92BParagraph 92B
- 92CParagraph 92C
- 93Paragraph 93
- 94Paragraph 94 Repealed
- 95Paragraph 95
- 95AParagraph 95A
- 96Paragraph 96 Repealed
- 97Paragraph 97 Repealed
- 98Paragraph 98 Repealed
- 98AParagraph 98A
- 99Paragraph 99
- 100Paragraph 100
- 101Paragraph 101 Repealed
- 102Paragraph 102
- 102AParagraph 102A
- 102BParagraph 102B
- 103Paragraph 103 Repealed
- 104Paragraph 104
- 105Paragraph 105
- 105AParagraph 105A
- 106Paragraph 106
- 107Paragraph 107
- Schedule 2: The Scottish Information Commissioner
- 1Status
- 2Pensions, allowances, etc.
- 3Staff
- 4Accountable officer
- Budget
- 4AParagraph 4A
- 5Accounts
- 6General powers
- Location of office
- 7Paragraph 7
- Sharing of premises, staff, services and other resources
- 8Paragraph 8
- Restrictions on subsequent appointments etc.
- 9Paragraph 9
- Schedule 3: Powers Of Entry And Inspection
- 1Grant of warrants
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Execution of warrants
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- 7Matters exempt from inspection and seizure
- 8Paragraph 8
- 9Paragraph 9
- 10Offences
- 11Vessels, vehicles etc.
- Schedule 4: Consequential Amendments To Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2