Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

1. Introduction

2. The Act – an Overview

   1. Part 1 – Access to information held by Scottish public authorities

   2. Part 2 – Exempt information

   3. Part 3 – The Scottish Information Commissioner

   4. Part 4 – Enforcement

   5. Part 5 – Historical records

   6. Part 6 – Codes of practice

   7. Part 7 – Miscellaneous and supplemental

3. The Act – Section by Section

   1. Part 1 – Access to information held by Scottish public authorities

      1. Section 1 – General entitlement

      2. Section 2 – Effect of exemptions

      3. Section 3 – Scottish public authorities

      4. Section 4 – Amendment of schedule 1

      5. Section 5 – Further power to designate Scottish public authorities

      6. Section 6 – Publicly-owned companies

      7. Section 7 – Public authorities to which Act has limited application

      8. Section 8 – Requesting information

      9. Section 9 – Fees

      10. Section 10 – Time for compliance

      11. Section 11 – Means of providing information

      12. Section 12 – Excessive cost of compliance

      13. Section 13 – Fees for disclosure in certain circumstances

      14. Section 14 – Vexatious or repeated requests

      15. Section 15 – Duty to provide advice and assistance

      16. Section 16 – Refusal of request

      17. Section 17 – Notice that information is not held

      18. Section 18 – Further provision as respects responses to request

      19. Section 19 – Content of certain notices

      20. Section 20 – Requirement for review of refusal etc.

      21. Section 21 – Review by Scottish public authority

      22. Section 22 – Special provisions relating to records transferred to the Keeper

      23. Section 23 – Publication schemes

      24. Section 24 – Model publication schemes

   2. Part 2 – Exempt information

      1. Section 25 – Information otherwise accessible

      2. Section 26 – Prohibitions on disclosure

      3. Section 27 – Information intended for future publication

      4. Section 28 – Relations within the United Kingdom

      5. Section 29 – Formulation of Scottish Administration policy etc.

      6. Section 30 – Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs

      7. Section 31 – National security and defence

      8. Section 32 – International relations

      9. Section 33 – Commercial interests and the economy

      10. Section 34 – Investigations by Scottish public authorities and proceedings arising out of such investigations

      11. Section 35 – Law enforcement

      12. Section 36 – Confidentiality

      13. Section 37 – Court records, etc.

      14. Section 38 – Personal information

      15. Section 39 – Health, safety and the environment

      16. Section 40 – Audit functions

      17. Section 41 – Communications with Her Majesty, etc. and honours

   3. Part 3 – The Scottish Information Commissioner

      1. Section 42 – The Scottish Information Commissioner

      2. Section 43 – General functions of Commissioner

      3. Section 44 – Recommendations as to good practice

      4. Section 45 – Confidentiality of information obtained by or furnished to Commissioner

      5. Section 46 – Laying of reports

   4. Part 4 – Enforcement

      1. Section 47 – Application for decision by Commissioner

      2. Section 48 – When application excluded

      3. Section 49 – Commissioner’s decision

      4. Section 50 – Information notices

      5. Section 51 – Enforcement notices

      6. Section 52 – Exception from duty to comply with certain notices

      7. Section 53 – Failure to comply with notice

      8. Section 54 – Powers of entry and inspection

      9. Section 55 – No civil right of action against Scottish public authority

      10. Section 56 – Appeal against notices under Part 4

   5. Part 5 – Historical records

      1. Section 57 – The expression “historical record”

      2. Section 58 – Falling away of exemptions with time

      3. Section 59 – Power to vary periods in sections 57 and 58

   6. Part 6 – Codes of practice

      1. Section 60 – Code of practice as to functions under this Act

      2. Section 61 – Code of practice as to the keeping, management and destruction of records

   7. Part 7 – Miscellaneous and supplemental

      1. Section 62 – Power to make provision relating to environmental information

      2. Section 63 – Disclosure of information to Scottish Public Services Ombudsman or to the UK Information Commissioner

      3. Section 64 – Power to amend or repeal enactments prohibiting disclosure of information

      4. Section 65 – Offence of altering etc. records with intent to prevent disclosure

      5. Section 67 – Protection for actions for defamation

      6. Section 68 – Scottish Parliament and Scottish Administration

      7. Section 69 – Exercise of rights by children

      8.  Section 70 – Amendment of Public Records (Scotland) Act 1937

      9. Section 71 – Amendment of Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002

      10. Section 72 – Orders and regulations

      11. Section 74 – Giving of notice

      12. Section 75 – Commencement

   8. Schedules

      1. Schedule 1 – Scottish Public Authorities (introduced by section 3(1)(a)(i))

      2. Schedule 2 – The Scottish Information Commissioner (introduced by section 42(12))

      3. Schedule 3 – Powers of Entry and Inspection (introduced by section 54)

      4. Schedule 4 – Consequential amendments to Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 (introduced by section 71(2))

4. Parliamentary History of Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002