- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Freedom of Information Act 2000, Part V is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 15 October 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
(1)Where a decision notice has been served, the complainant or the public authority may appeal to the Tribunal against the notice.
(2)A public authority on which an information notice or an enforcement notice has been served by the Commissioner may appeal to the Tribunal against the notice.
(3)In relation to a decision notice or enforcement notice which relates—
(a)to information to which section 66 applies, and
(b)to a matter which by virtue of subsection (3) or (4) of that section falls to be determined by the responsible authority instead of the appropriate records authority,
subsections (1) and (2) shall have effect as if the reference to the public authority were a reference to the public authority or the responsible authority.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 57 applied (with modifications) (31.12.2009) by The INSPIRE Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3157), {reg. 11(1)-(3)(8)(9)}
C2S. 57 applied (with modifications) (18.7.2015) by The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1415), regs. 1, 18 (with regs. 5, 11(4))
C3S. 57 excluded (18.7.2015) by The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1415), regs. 1, 22(7) (with regs. 5, 11(4))
C4S. 57 applied (with modifications) (18.7.2015) by The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1415), regs. 1, 19 (with regs. 5, 11(4))
Commencement Information
I1S. 57 wholly in force at 1.1.2005; s. 57 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 87(3); s. 57(2) in force at 30.11.2002 by S.I. 2002/2812, art. 2(g); s. 57(1)(3) in force for certain purposes at 1.1.2005 by S.I. 2004/1909, art. 2; s. 57(1)(3) otherwise in force at 1.1.2005 by S.I. 2004/3122, art. 2
(1)If on an appeal under section 57 the Tribunal considers—
(a)that the notice against which the appeal is brought is not in accordance with the law, or
(b)to the extent that the notice involved an exercise of discretion by the Commissioner, that he ought to have exercised his discretion differently,
the Tribunal shall allow the appeal or substitute such other notice as could have been served by the Commissioner; and in any other case the Tribunal shall dismiss the appeal.
(2)On such an appeal, the Tribunal may review any finding of fact on which the notice in question was based.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C5S. 58 applied (with modifications) (31.12.2009) by The INSPIRE Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3157), {reg. 11(1)-(3)(9)}
C6S. 58 applied (with modifications) (18.7.2015) by The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1415), regs. 1, 18 (with regs. 5, 11(4))
F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1S. 59 omitted (18.1.2010) by virtue of The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/22), arts. 1(1), 5(1), Sch. 2 para. 69
(1)Where a certificate under section 23(2) or 24(3) has been issued—
(a)the Commissioner, or
(b)any applicant whose request for information is affected by the issue of the certificate,
may appeal to the Tribunal against the certificate.
(2)If on an appeal under subsection (1) relating to a certificate under section 23(2), the Tribunal finds that the information referred to in the certificate was not exempt information by virtue of section 23(1), the Tribunal may allow the appeal and quash the certificate.
(3)If on an appeal under subsection (1) relating to a certificate under section 24(3), the Tribunal finds that, applying the principles applied by the court on an application for judicial review, the Minister did not have reasonable grounds for issuing the certificate, the Tribunal may allow the appeal and quash the certificate.
(4)Where in any proceedings under this Act it is claimed by a public authority that a certificate under section 24(3) which identifies the information to which it applies by means of a general description applies to particular information, any other party to the proceedings may appeal to the Tribunal on the ground that the certificate does not apply to the information in question and, subject to any determination under subsection (5), the certificate shall be conclusively presumed so to apply.
(5)On any appeal under subsection (4), the Tribunal may determine that the certificate does not so apply.
Commencement Information
I2S. 60 wholly in force at 1.1.2005; s. 60 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 87(3); s. 60 in force for certain purposes at 1.1.2005 by S.I. 2002/1909, art. 2 and otherwise in force at 1.1.2005 by S.I. 2004/3122, art. 2
(1)Tribunal Procedure Rules may make provision for regulating the exercise of rights of appeal conferred by sections 57(1) and (2) and 60(1) and (4).
(2)In relation to appeals under those provisions, Tribunal Procedure Rules may make provision about—
(a)securing the production of material used for the processing of personal data, and
(b)the inspection, examination, operation and testing of equipment or material used in connection with the processing of personal data.
(3)Subsection (4) applies where—
(a)a person does something, or fails to do something, in relation to proceedings before the First-tier Tribunal on an appeal under those provisions, and
(b)if those proceedings were proceedings before a court having power to commit for contempt, the act or omission would constitute contempt of court.
(4)The First-tier Tribunal may certify the offence to the Upper Tribunal.
(5)Where an offence is certified under subsection (4), the Upper Tribunal may—
(a)inquire into the matter, and
(b)deal with the person charged with the offence in any manner in which it could deal with the person if the offence had been committed in relation to the Upper Tribunal.
(6)Before exercising the power under subsection (5)(b), the Upper Tribunal must—
(a)hear any witness who may be produced against or on behalf of the person charged with the offence, and
(b)hear any statement that may be offered in defence.
(7)In this section, “personal data” and “processing” have the same meaning as in Parts 5 to 7 of the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3(2), (4) and (14) of that Act).]
Textual Amendments
F2S. 61 substituted (23.5.2018 for specified purposes, 25.5.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12), s. 212(1)(2)(f), Sch. 19 para. 60 (with ss. 117, 209, 210, Sch. 20 para. 53); S.I. 2018/625, reg. 2(1)(g)
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: