Campaign warns FOI inquiry must be comprehensive and independent

The Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland today warned that the independent inquiry into Scottish government’s handling of FoI requests, agreed by all parties in the Scottish Parliament yesterday, must be comprehensive, take evidence from requesters across society, and be fully independent.

Carol Ewart, convener of the CFoIS, said: “The Scottish government’s acceptance of its own poor performance and the need for an inquiry into what has gone wrong is welcome. But any attempt to suggest that such an inquiry can be foisted onto the Information Commissioner will be seen as an evasion of this commitment and will draw precious resources away from their statutory functions.

“The post-legislative scrutiny of FoISA is an opportunity for ambitious reform of access to information rights. To encourage and enable informed debate, today we are publishing a report on international practice that offers lessons for Scotland.”

These developments come at the end of a period where the Scottish government practice on FOI has been subject to criticism from the Information Commissioner, has provoked an unprecedented open letter from 23 Scottish journalists, two debates in the Parliament and the reconvening of the Scottish Public Information Forum – shut down by the Scottish government seven years ago – by the CFoIS itself.

Ms Ewart said: “Both an independent inquiry into the government’s practices, and the post-legislative scrutiny are required, so we can look at the progress to openness across the board.

“While the immediate concentration must be on the Scottish government, a number of other problems have led to the erosion of FOI rights for all of us. These must also be addressed, to re-establish openness and transparency throughout Scottish public services.”