Plain English Guide to FOI launched
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Issued
on 30 January 2012
The Information
Commissioner has today published a new plain English Guide
to Freedom of Information to help public authorities better
understand what the Act says and how to apply it. The guide takes a
straight-forward look at the law and explains in simple terms what
organisations need to do to comply, including how to respond to
requests and deciding what information they should routinely publish.
Speaking at
Capita’s Transparency and the Public Sector
seminar, the Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, said:
“Applying the
Freedom of Information Act correctly can be a challenge and matters of
interpretation can be complex. But we shouldn’t make the Act appear
more complicated than it is by resorting to arcane terms and obscure
references in hard to find guidance notes and reference books.
“The new Guide to
FOI is about demystifying the Act by making the legislation more
user-friendly and intelligible. We’ve done away with legalistic terms
in favour of plain and simple language and, for the first time, all of
the basic information and advice now lives in one place. I am sure the
guide will be an invaluable resource for FOI officers when considering
requests.”
The Information
Commissioner also addressed the conference with his thoughts about the
start of the review of the Freedom of Information Act by the House of
Commons Justice Committee. Mr Graham said:
“I hope that the
review of the first seven years is going to be based on evidence, not
emotion, fact not fantasy. We need careful analysis and calm debate to
arrive at an FOI settlement that is truly fit for purpose.”
The ICO’s Guide to
FOI displays the Clear English Standard logo. Martin Cutts, research
director of the Plain Language Commission, which runs the Clear English
Standard scheme said:
"This guide
explains the Freedom of Information Act in a clear, logical and
straightforward way. It uses familiar language and everyday examples to
help public authorities make sense of and apply this important area of
law in their own organisations."
The Guide to FOI
is available on the ICO website at: http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/freedom_of_information/guide.aspx
If you need more
information, please contact the ICO press office on 0303 123 9070 or
visit the website at: www.ico.gov.uk.
About the Author
The Information Commissioner’s Office is the UK’s
independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public
interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for
individuals. We do this by promoting good practice, ruling on
complaints, providing information to individuals and organisations and
taking appropriate action when the law is broken.
The ICO enforces and oversees the following
legislation:
- Data Protection Act 1998
- Freedom of Information Act 2000
- Privacy and Electronic Communications
Regulations
2003
- Environmental Information Regulations
2004
