The Freedom of Information Act deals with access to official information and gives individuals or organisations the right to request information from any public authority.
The Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to request information held by public authorities, companies wholly owned by public authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and non-devolved public bodies in Scotland.
All public authorities and companies wholly owned by public authorities have obligations under the Freedom of Information Act. When responding to requests, they have to follow a number of set procedures.
The ICO publishes detailed guidance notes that provide organisations and individuals with all the information they need to know about the Freedom of Information Act.
A Decision Notice outlines the ICO's final assessment, following a complaint, as to whether or not a public authority has complied with the Act. These are catalogued and available online.
Enforcement action will be taken against public authorities that repeatedly fail to meet their responsibilities under the act.
A publication scheme is a commitment by a public authority to make certain information available, and a guide to how that information can be obtained.
Read the full text of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Read our FOI strategy here.
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