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In Scotland we operate as the Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland (which is part of the Campaign for Freedom of Information). For further information, contact either of the CFOIinS's co-conveners, who are based in Glasgow: Carole Ewart or Derek Manson-Smith. Or write to CFOIinS at Wellpark Enterprise Centre, 120 Sydney Street, Glasgow G31 1JF. The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act was passed on 28 May 2002 and came fully into force on 1 January 2005. This page contains links to the Campaign's publications on the FOI (Scotland) Act and the proposals which preceded it. You may also want to visit the Scottish Government's FOI page or the Scottish Information Commissioner's site. |
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Campaign's publications |
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Extending the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act |
| Response to the Scottish Government's discussion paper on the possible extension in coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act. 23 February 2009 | |
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Press release 15 March 2007 |
| This press release welcomes the Scottish Executive's decision not to follow the UK in restricting freedom of information. | |
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One Year On - the
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 884 kb  |
| Response to the Scottish Executive's review of the Act after the first year. 8 May 2006 | |
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Finance Committee Submission 876 kb |
| Submission to an inquiry by the Scottish Parliament's Finance Committee which is looking at the role of various regulators including the Scottish Information Commissioner. 8 May 2006 | |
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Short guide to the FOI Act and other access rights |
| The Campaign has produced a users' guide to the Freedom of Information Act, Environmental Information Regulations and new rights to see personal information about you held by public authorities. The guide covers both the UK and Scottish legislation. More detailed guides on the exemptions and the public interest test will be published shortly. If you would like to be informed when these become available, send an email to admin@cfoi.demon.co.uk asking to join our 'CFOI Updates' mailing list. | |
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Environmental
Information in Scotland 456 kb |
| This response to the Scottish Executive's consultation on the draft Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations, expresses concern at the potentially high fees and points out that it will be easier for authorities to withhold environmental information than other information. | |
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Comments on the SIC's
draft publication scheme 304
kb |
| Response to the consultation on the Scottish Information Commissioner's draft publication scheme. 18 June 2004 | |
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Fees response 314
kb |
| Response to the Scottish Executive's consultation on the fees that can be charged for information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act. 1 June 2004 | |
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Section 60 code response 400
kb |
| Response to the Scottish Executive's consultation on the code of practice to be issued under section 60 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act providing guidance to public authorities on best practice. November 2003 | |
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FOI "needs higher profile" |
Press release warning that
Scottish public authorities need to do more to prepare for the Freedom
of
Information (Scotland)
Act. 26 September 2003 |
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Briefing for stage 3
debate 168 kb |
| This briefing for MSPs highlights the key amendments tabled for Stage 3 of the FOI (Scotland) Bill on 24 April 2002. See below for a link to the Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 3. 23 April 2002 | |
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Last chance to improve the Freedom of Information Bill |
| The FOI (Scotland) Bill is an improvement on the UK FOI Act, but it still contains important loopholes. This leaflet urges MSPs to improve the Bill during it's final stage in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 24 April. 23 April 2002 | |
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The 'policy formulation'
exemption 200 kb |
| This briefing produced for Stage 2 of the FOI (Scotland) Bill encourages MSPs to support two key amendments to section 29 (Formulation of Scottish Administration policy). In particular, the Campaign urges MSPs to support Amendment 72 which would bring the Bill into line with the Irish and Australian FOI Acts, both of which prevent factual information from being withheld under the corresponding exemption. 26 February 2002 | |
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Letter to MSPs for stage 2 |
| Letter to MSPs highlighting those amendments tabled for the Stage 2 proceedings of the FOI (Scotland) Bill that the Campaign particularly supports. See below for a link to the 1st Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2. 5 February 2002 | |
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Briefing for stage 1
debate 176 kb |
| This briefing for MSPs was produced for the Stage 1 Debate of the FOI (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament on 17 January 2002. See below for a link to the Official Report of the Debate. 18 January 2002 | |
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Campaign warns about ministers' 'disclosure veto' |
| Press release responding to the report of the Scottish Parliament's Justice 1 Committee on the FOI (Scotland) Bill. 11 January 2002 | |
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The ministerial veto overseas 184
kb |
| This paper describes oversesas experience with a ministerial veto in some FOI laws. It was submitted to the Justice 1 Committee which is considering the the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill. 8 January 2002 | |
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Oral evidence to Justice Committee 1 |
| David Goldberg, Co-convener of the Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland, and Maurice Frankel, Director of the Campaign, gave oral evidence on the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill to Justice Committee 1 of the Scottish Parliament on 27 November 2001. 6 December 2001 | |
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Evidence to Justice Committee
1 188 kb |
| Written evidence to the Justice Committee 1 of the Scottish Parliament on the FOI Bill. 30 November 2001 | |
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Scotland's FOI Bill welcome - but improvements still needed |
| Press release on the publication by the Scottish Executive of a Freedom of Information Bill. 28 September 2001 | |
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Supplementary submission on draft FOI Bill |
| Letter expressing concern at an exemption for investigations into deaths contained in the draft Scottish FOI Bill. 26 June 2001 | |
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Seminar on the draft
FOI Bill 48 kb |
| Report of a seminar on the consumer perspective on the draft Bill held in Glasgow on 30 March 2001. Organised by the Campaign and the Scottish Consumer Council. 6 April 2001 | |
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Response
to consultation on the draft FOI Bill 192
kb |
| The Campaign's response to Scottish Executive's consultation on the draft Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill. The response was also prepared for a debate in the Scottish Parliament on the draft Bill. 14 March 2001 | |
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Scottish information bill welcomed - with reservations |
| Press release welcoming the Scottish Executive's draft FOI bill, while expressing concern over some broad exemptions, the existence of a ministerial veto and the potential for high charges for information. 1 March 2001 | |
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Response to consultation
on Freedom of Information 156
kb |
| The Campaign's response to the Scottish Executive's consultation on proposals for a Scottish Freedom of Information Act (An Open Scotland). It welcomes the fact that some aspects of the Scottish Executive's proposals go significantly beyond the Westminster government's flawed Bill, but calls for improvements in other areas. 2 May 2000 | |
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Evidence to Scottish Justice and Home Affairs Committee |
| David Goldberg, the Co-convener of the Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland, gave oral evidence on the Scottish Executive's proposals for freedom of information legislation to the Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the Scottish Parliament on 16 February 2000. | |
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Scotland overtakes UK on FOI |
| Campaign press release welcoming the fact that the Scottish Executive's proposals on FOI reject key elements of the flawed UK Bill. 25 November 1999 | |
Links to official publications |
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Official Report Stage 3 debate |
| Official Report of the Stage 3 Debate of the FOI (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament on 24 April 2002. | |
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Marshalled
List of Amendments for Stage 3 57
kb |
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The FOI (Scotland) Bill as amended at stage 2 |
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Official Report Day 4 Stage 2 proceedings |
| Official Report of Day 4 of the Stage 2 proceedings of the FOI (Scotland) Bill on 5 March 2002. The Committee discussed sections 45 to 73 of the Bill during this session. This link will open in a new window. | |
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4th
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 40 kb |
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Official Report Day 3 Stage 2 proceedings |
| Official Report of Day 3 of the Stage 2 proceedings of the FOI (Scotland) Bill on 26 February 2002. The Committee discussed sections 29 to 44 of the Bill during this session. This link will open in a new window. | |
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3rd
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 76
kb |
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Official Report Day 2 Stage 2 proceedings |
| Official Report of Day 2 of the Stage 2 proceedings of the FOI (Scotland) Bill on 12 February 2002. The Committee discussed sections 10, 11 and 14 to 28 of the Bill during this session. This link will open in a new window. | |
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2nd
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 90
kb |
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Official Report Day 1 Stage 2 proceedings |
| Official Report of Day 1 of the Stage 2 proceedings of the FOI (Scotland) Bill on 5 February 2002. The Committee discussed sections 1 to 8 and schedule 1 of the Bill during this session. This link will open in a new window. | |
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1st
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 84
kb |
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Stage 1 Debate |
| Official Report of the Stage 1 Debate of the FOI (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament on 17 January 2002. This link will open in a new window. | |
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The Scottish Executive's FOI Bill |
| The FOI Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 27 September 2001. | |
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Scottish Parliament's debate on the draft FOI Bill |
| Members of the Scottish Parliament debated the Executive's draft FOI Bill on 15 March 2001. This link will open in a new window. | |
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Scottish Executive's draft
Freedom of Information Bill 608
kb |
| The Scottish Executive's consultation document and draft Freedom of Information Bill. Alternatively, you can read these on the Executive's website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/government/dfib-00.asp. 1 March 2001 | |
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Summary of responses
to An Open Scotland 88
kb |
| Scottish Executive document summarising the results of the consultation on its FOI proposals. May 2000 | |
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'An Open Scotland' |
| The Scottish Executive's proposals for a Freedom of Information Act are set out in this consultation document published in November 1999. (The link above will take you to the Scottish Executive's website.) | |
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The Deputy First Minister's statement on FOI to the Scottish Parliament |
| Statement by Jim Wallace MSP, Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice, promising a Scottish Freedom of Information Act. 23 June 1999 | |
Miscellaneous |
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Code of Practice on Access to
Scottish Executive Information 56
kb |
| Text of the Scottish Executive's open government code of practice. This promises to provide, subject to certain exemptions, information on request from those bodies subject to the remit of the Scottish Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. | |
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Operation of the Scottish
open government code 48 kb |
| Report on the operation of the Scottish open government code of practice in 2000. 14 March 2001 | |
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Scottish Parliamentary Answers on Freedom of Information |
| Some written questions and answers from the Scottish Parliament on the progress towards Freedom of Information in Scotland. 19 September 2000 | |
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The
Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland is running a half-day
course on 
