Explanatory Notes

Freedom of Information Act 2000

2000 CHAPTER 36

30th November 2000

Commentary on Sections

Part I: Access to information held by public authorities

Publication schemes

Section 20: Model publication schemes

83.This section gives authorities the option of adopting an ‘off-the-shelf’ scheme, which may have been prepared by the Commissioner, or others, rather than preparing their own. For example, a scheme could be prepared for all schools, which each individual school could adopt, or all district authorities in a county might work together to prepare a model scheme, which would then be jointly adopted. This would enable better use to be made of resources in that the Commissioner would not have to approve a large number of draft schemes and authorities could work together in preparing model schemes. A model scheme could be adopted by an authority with or without modifications. (If modifications are proposed, the further approval of the Commissioner is required in relation to those modifications.)

84.The section contains provisions for approval, refusal to approve and revocation of approval of schemes which are comparable to those for individual schemes, except that when revoking his approval of a model publication scheme the Commissioner must publish a notice to this effect which must include a statement of his reasons.