Guidance

• Burials
• Care proceedings reform
• Coroners
• Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007
• Cremation
• Data protection
• Devolution
• Elections
• EU funding
• Flu pandemic
• Forced labour
• Forced marriage
• Forms of address
• Freedom of information
  • Dealing with a request
  • Guide to fees
  • Procedural guidance
  • Working assumptions
  • Exemptions guidance
  • Useful links
  • Codes of practice
  • Freedom of information guidance for local government
• Funding for the victim and witness voluntary sector
• Human rights
• Justice impact test
• Mental Capacity Act 2005
• Mentally disordered offenders
• Pleural plaques former claimants payment scheme
• Referral orders
• Regulatory offences
• Rehabilitation of Offenders Act

Freedom of information

Guidance and resources to help those who work in central government, or other public authorities, to deal with freedom of information requests.

The following guidance is aimed at people working in central government departments who deal with freedom of information requests. It may also be a useful reference tool for those working in other public authorities.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into force in January 2005 and gives any person legal rights of access to information which is held by a public authority. We are responsible for freedom of information policy in the UK. We develop the framework for the Act to be enacted properly by public authorities, providing them with guidance and best practice.

Making a freedom of information request

If you are a member of the public seeking guidance on how to submit a freedom of information request please go to Directgov.

If you would like to request information from the Ministry of Justice under the Freedom of Information Act please visit Make a freedom of information request.