Proactive Publication: time for a rethink?

Special Report

In her last official report to Parliament before leaving office at the end of April 2017, Scottish Information Commissioner Rosemary Agnew is calling for debate about a radical re-think of freedom of information (FOI). The Special Report was laid before the Scottish Parliament on 28 April 2017.

Download the Special Report

Proactive Publication: time for a rethink? (PDF)

Executive Summary

Publication of information is important to building trust and confidence in public services

FOI law diverts resources from value-adding dissemination of information

The framework is complex and needs simplification

Proactive publication does not deliver the level of openness intended

An opportunity to embed access to information and drive cultural change

FOI gives insufficient weight to proactive publication

Request volumes are increasing year-on-year

Proactive publication by itself cannot deliver transparency

Read the research behind the Special Report

Public Awareness Research 2017
Model Publication Scheme Monitoring 2017