The Freedom of Information Act is a major indication of the UK Government’s commitment to transparency. It is bold, future-looking legislation that opens up public information, yet, keeps personal information private. The ethos of freedom of information (FOI) is clear. Ask, and the information will be provided unless there is good reason for it not to be.
A responsible requester is one who provides proper information, does not waste public resources, or otherwise go against the spirit of the legislation.
The burden to make information available falls on the public purse and public sector employees. The legislation, which has openness and fairness at its heart, makes clear that public authorities should proactively assist the public in accessing non-exempt information.
It is clear that both the public and private sector have been significantly affected by obligations imposed by the Freedom of Information Act. Therefore it is essential for both sectors to implement policies and training and raise awareness within their organisations to deal with the impact of the Act on their own spheres of operation.
Once you’ve taken the course, you may be surprised at the type of information that can make its way into the public domain.
