Explanatory Notes

Freedom of Information Act 2000

2000 CHAPTER 36

30th November 2000

Commentary on Sections

Part IV: Enforcement

Section 54: Failure to comply with notice

187.This section provides sanctions for an authority’s failure to comply with a decision notice, information notice, or enforcement notice. Failure, in respect of information notices, includes knowingly or recklessly making false statements. The Commissioner may certify failure to the court. The court may inquire into the matter and, after hearing witnesses or any statement on behalf of the public authority, deal with the authority as if it had committed a contempt of court. In this section, the court means the High Court in England and Wales or Northern Ireland or the Court of Session in Scotland.