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About SIC
- About the Scottish Information Commissioner
- Kevin Dunion - the first Scottish Information Commissioner
- Promoting your right to information from Scottish public authorities
- The Scottish Information Commissioner's Team
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- Enforcing your right to information held by Scottish public authorities
News
- Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner opens in St Andrews.
- Authorities seek guidance on 2005 FOI compliance
- Statement from the Scottish Information Commissioner regarding the publication of the contract between the Scottish Prison Service and Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd
- Central and local government open their files to the public.
- Scottish Information Commissioner concludes first case under open government code.
- Commissioner to address St Andrews residents.
- Journalists expected to take advantage of new information rights.
- Scottish Prison Service can withhold Reliance contract details.
- Research reveals authorities need to do more for freedom of information.
- New year means new rights as freedom of information law comes into effect.
- Commissioner launches public Right to Know campaign.
- Freedom of Information gets off to a flying start.
- Commissioner publishes report on Scottish Executive search for records relating to institutional children’s homes and education.
- Scottish Information Commissioner upholds appeal over the release of childhood leukaemia statistics
- Scottish Information Commissioner rules that Conservative Parliamentary leader's taxi destinations should be released
- Scottish Information Commissioner rules that mortality rates for all surgeons in Scotland should be released
- Third survey shows increased public awareness of freedom of information
- Scots embrace freedom of information
- Commissioner requires disclosure of information on the detention of children at Dungavel
- Freedom of Information a success in Scotland
- The Act is working - but has the culture changed?
- Court of Session upholds Commissioner's Decision
- Commissioner requires release of information from Wick Harbour death report
- Commissioner welcomes Court ruling in landmark freedom of information case
- Launch of Scottish Information Commissioner's Annual Report 2006-07
- Commissioner orders release of contract information
- New Website Opens Doors to Freedom of Information
- Scotland ries to the challenge of freedom of information...but more can be done
- Commissioner’s 500th decision orders release of unsolved murder files
- Scottish Information Commissioner orders release of NHS Lothian PFI contract
- Commissioner calls for public’s right to information to be protected when public services are privatised
- Public awareness of FOI is high - but some groups may be lagging behind
- Commissioner reappointed
- Court of Session rules on Enterprise Act case
- Commissioner welcomes release of Reliance contract
- Annual Report 2007 publishes first comprehensive data on Freedom of Information appeals
- Commissioner wants young people to be more aware of their rights to access information
- Commissioner wants older people to be more aware of their rights to information
- Commissioner urges people from all backgrounds to be more aware of their rights to information
- Forthcoming events involving the Commissioner and his team
- Freedom of Information in the news
- Scottish Information Commissioner Image Library
- Scottish Information Commissioner media team
- Latest news from the Scottish Information Commissioner
- News Releases
- The Scottish Information Commissioner's policy on accepting speaking engagements
SIC Procurement
SIC Publication Scheme
- Cost of information from the publication scheme
- Improvements to the publication scheme
- Copyright for information in the publication scheme
- Access to information not covered by the publication scheme
- Information not available through the publication scheme
- Design of the scheme
- Obtaining information included in the publication scheme
- Records management and archiving policy
- Responsibility for the publication scheme
- Access information produced by the Scottish Information Commissioner
- Publication Scheme Search Hints
SIC Reports
Other Reports
- Other Reports of the Scottish Information Commissioner
- Research
- Report from the Research Conference November 2007
- Public authorities: are they ready for Freedom of Information?
- Scotland’s new Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation: Research released today (22 March 2004) by the Scottish Information Commissioner and TSO (The Stationery Office).
- How much do the Scottish public know about Freedom of Information and their new rights?
- November 2006 - the Act is working but has the culture changed?
- Public awareness of FOI is high, but some groups may be lagging behind
- How aware are the public of Scotland’s new Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation?
- Freedom of Information - is there now greater awareness of the new rights?
- Scotland rises to the challenge of FOI...but more can be done
2nd International Conference
- Report from 2nd International Information Commissioners' Conference, Cape Town, South Africa
- 2nd International Conference Representation - Canada
- 2nd International Conference Representation - Estonia
- 2nd International Conference Representation - France
- 2nd International Conference Representation - Germany (Berlin)
- 2nd International Conference Representation - Germany (Brandenburg)
- 2nd International Conference Representation - Hungary
- 2nd International Conference Representation - Mexico
- 2nd International Conference Representation - Portugal
- 2nd International Conference Representation - Scotland
- 2nd International Conference Representation - South Africa
- 2nd International Conference Representation - Sweden
- 2nd International Conference Representation - United Kingdom
- 2nd International Conference Representation - USA (Conneticut)
- 2nd International Conference Representation - USA (Department of Justice)
Law
FOISA
- Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
- Schedule 1 - Scottish Public Authorities
- Schedule 2 - The Scottish Information Commissioner
- Schedule 3 - Powers of entry and inspection
- Schedule 4 - Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act
FOISA Part 1
- Duty to Provide Advice and Assistance
- Amendment of Schedule 1
- Content of Certain Notices
- Effect of Exemptions
- Excessive Cost of Compliance
- Fees
- Fees for Disclosure in Certain Circumstances
- Access to information held by Scottish public authorities
- Further Power to designate Scottish Public Authorities
- General Entitlement
- Notice that Information is Not Held
- Public Authorities to which Act has Limited Application
- Model Publication Schemes
- Means of Providing Information
- Publication Schemes
- Publicly-owned Companies
- Special Provisions Relating to Records Transferred to Keeper
- Refusal of Request
- Requesting Information
- Further Provision as Responses to Request
- Review by Scottish Public Authority
- Requirement for Review of Refusal etc
- Scottish Public Authorities
- Time for Compliance
- Vexatious or Repeated Requests
FOISA Part 2
- Audit Functions
- Commercial Interests and the Economy
- Communications with Her Majesty etc. and Honours
- Prejudice to Effective Conduct of Public Affairs
- Confidentiality
- Court Records, etc
- Exempt Information
- Health, Safety and the Enviroment
- Information Intended for Future Publication
- Information Otherwise Accessible
- International Relations
- Investigations by Scottish Public Authorities and Proceedings Arising Out of Such Investigations
- Law enforcement
- National Security and Defence
- Personal Information
- Prohibitions on Disclosure
- Relations within the United Kingdom
- Formulation of Scottish Administration Policy etc
FOISA Part 4
- Appeal Against Notices Under Part 4
- Application for Decision by Commissioner
- Commissioner's Decision
- Enforcement Notices
- Exception From Duty to Comply with Certain Notices
- Failure to Comply with Notice
- Enforcement of FOISA
- Information Notices
- No Civil Right of Action Against Scottish Public Authority
- Powers of Entry and Inspection
- When Application Excluded
FOISA Part 7
- Amendment of Public Records (Scotland) Act 1937
- Amendment of Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002
- Commencement
- Disclosure of Information to Scottish Public Services Ombudsman or to Information Commissioner
- Exercise of Rights by Children
- Miscellaneous and supplemental provisions of FOISA
- Giving of Notice etc.
- Interpretation
- Offence of Altering etc. Records with Intent to Prevent Disclosure
- Orders and Regulations
- Power to Amend or Repeal Enactments Prohibiting Disclosure of Information
- Power to Make Provision Relating to Environmental Information
- Protection from Actions for Defamation
- Saving for Existing Powers of Disclosure
- Scottish Parliament and Scottish Administration
- Short title
Guidance
Section 14
Section 34
- Appendix 1: Section 34
- Appendix 2: The purposes listed in Section 35(2)
- Consideration of the public interest test
- Decision to withhold: content of the decision notice
- Duration
- Implementation issues
- Overlap with other exemptions
- Overseas experience
- Purpose of the exemptions
- Background on the role of the Procurator Fiscal
- Scope of briefing
- Scope of the exemptions
- Exemptions - Investigations by Scottish Public Authorities (section 34)
- Sources
- Type of exemption
- Updates
- What does the Act say?
Section 36
- Actionable breach of confidence
- Appendix: Section 36
- Confidentiality of communications
- Consideration of the public interest test
- Duration
- Further consideration of the public interest test
- Further reading
- New contracts entered into by Scottish public authorities: Section 60 Code
- Overseas experience
- Relationship with the EU Procurement Regulations
- Scope of Briefing
- Exemptions – Confidentiality (section 36)
- Sources
- Updates
- What does the Act say?
Section 39
- Appendix: section 39
- Consideration of the public interest test
- Duration
- Overseas experience
- Scope of briefing
- Exemptions - Health, Safety and the Environment (section 39)
- Section 39(1): information endangering health and safety
- Section 39(2): environmental information
- Sources
- Type of exemption
- Updates
- What does the Act say?
Personal Information
- Access to personal information about yourself and others
- Access to personal information about others
- Access to personal information about yourself
Scottish Public Authorities
- Resources to help with Records Management
- Scottish Public Authorities where you have the right to information
- Complying with FOISA
Publication Schemes
Your Rights
- Your Rights publications
- Response Calculator
- Response Calculator Details
- Translations
- Guidance about your rights to access public and environmental information