Campaign for Freedom of Information
The Campaign for Freedom of Information is an independent non-party, non-profit organisation campaigning to improve access to official information. The site includes information and commentary on the Freedom of Information Act 2000, its implementation, and issues concerning its present operation, as well as links to the relevant legislation.
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Department for Constitutional Affairs: Freedom of Information
The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) site has not been updated since 2007 but has been retained for archival purposes. Information here covers the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and foregoing reports; Codes of Practice under the Act; the Data Protection Act 1998; the DCA's Information Rights Journal 2005-2006; and other publications on data protection issues. The Ministry of Justice has been responsible for freedom of information since 9 May 2007 and its site has up to date information.
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First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights)
The First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights) hears appeals from notices issued by the Information Commissioner under data protection and freedom of information legislation. It was originally established in 2000 as the Data Protection Tribunal, was subsequently renamed the Information Tribunal, and on 18 January 2010 was transferred into the General Regulatory Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal. Its web site has details of the appeal procedure, links to relevant legislation including procedural rules, a list of pending appeals ("Current Cases"), and decisions 2000 onwards in full text.
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Freedomofinformation.co.uk
Freedom of Information Ltd is a company offering consultancy services relating to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Its web site includes descriptions of the effects of the Act in relation to the public sector, the private sector, and individual rights. An archive of news stories covers the period around the Act's implementation, 2004-2005.
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Guardian: Freedom of Information
This is a section of the Guardian newspaper's web site which brings together its coverage of freedom of information (FOI) issues since May 1999. There is also information and guidance on various aspects of FOI, and a set of links, including to legislation.
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Information Commissioner's Office
The Information Commissioner is responsible for data protection and freedom of information in the UK. On data protection this site contains the 1998 Act, codes of practice and other documents relating to its interpretation and enforcement, and a searchable register of data controllers (the "Data Protection Public Register"). On freedom of information the site contains the 2000 Act in full, documents concerning its interpretation and enforcement, and decision notices 2005 onwards.
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Ministry of Justice: Freedom of Information
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is responsible for freedom of information policy in the UK. Information and guidance in this section of the MoJ site is aimed primarily at people working in central government and other public authorities who deal with freedom of information requests. It includes codes of practice and links to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and other legislation. |
National Security Certificate
There used to exist a National Security Appeals Panel (NSAP), a separate Panel of the former Information Tribunal which heard appeals against certificates issued by a Minister of the Crown on national security grounds. The Information Tribunal was replaced on 18 January 2010 by the First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights). This page on the First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights) web site provides information on the present procedure for such appeals and the full texts of past NSAP decisions.
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Office of the Information Commissioner, Ireland
The site has information on the role, functions and powers of Ireland's Information Commissioner, a post established in 1998 under the Freedom of Information Act 1997. It provides links to that Act, the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act 2003, and Regulations, as well as to an amalgamated version (for training purposes only) of the Acts. Other site content includes a guide to the Acts, the Commissioner's Decisions, court judgments (in appeals against decisions of the Commissioner), policy documents, annual reports, press releases, and a Latest News section.
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Scottish Information Commissioner
This site explains the rights of members of the public, and the responsibilities of public authorities, under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. A list of Appeals currently before the Commissioner, and the full text of Decisions already issued, are available. The 2002 Act is presented together with guidance regarding the various exemptions to its provisions.
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UCL Constitution Unit: Freedom of Information and Data Protection
The Constitution Unit is part of the Department of Political Science at University College London. Its team of Freedom of Information (FOI) and Data Protection (DP) experts have been reviewing information policy decisions and providing training and consultancy services in FOI and DP issues since 1996. In addition to conducting research, they assist both central government departments and local authorities with reviews of FOI and DP issues. The site contains monthly updates, a link to the Information Commissioner's Office decisions database, and local authority guidance documents.
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UK Freedom of Information Blog
This blog collates news stories and press releases concerning the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and related issues in the UK and abroad. It was originally established by Steve Wood (formerly a lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University, now an Assistant Commissioner at the Information Commissioner's Office) and is now maintained by the Campaign for Freedom of Information. The archive extends back to April 2003.
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