Sign in
☰
People MPsHouse of LordsGovernmentOppositionPartiesCommittees Votes Commons votesLords votesVotes by issueTopicsStats & rankingsParliament in numbers Legislation BillsEarly day motionsPetitions Elections Election resultsConstituenciesWho is my MP? Scotland OverviewMSPsScottish GovernmentVotesBillsMotionsCommitteesConstituencies & regionsElections Search Sign in

Motion · S6M-03807 · 25 Mar 2022

Celebrating Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act at 20 Years

Lodged by Katy Clark (Scottish Labour) Members' Business Motion 19 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament welcomes the Freedom of Information (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill, drafted by the Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland; recognises that 28 May 2022 marks 20 years since the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FoISA) received Royal Assent; is pleased that the law has provided people and organisations, including in the West Scotland region, with a free, enforceable right to access information held by public authorities, and considers that opening up the decision-making process, knowing who and what information informs decisions, and how public money is spent are fundamental to ensuring a fair and equal society; believes, however, that FoISA has failed to keep pace with information management and changes in how publicly funded services are delivered, and notes the view in the Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee inquiry report on FoISA, published in May 2020, that "there is a clear need to improve the legislation, particularly in respect of the bodies that it covers and in relation to proactive publication"; acknowledges the polling results published by the Scottish Information Commissioner indicating that enforceable legal rights regarding access to information are popular with the public, and notes the calls to ensure that access to information rights are robust and fit for purpose, and to expedite the necessary legal reform.

Supporters (19)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.