Freedom of Information Act (FOI)

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act was passed on 30 November 2000. It gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, with full access granted in January 2005. The Act sets out exemptions to that right and places certain obligations on public authorities.

• It applies to Public Authorities
• It affects everyone in the organisation
• There is a statutory duty to implement
• Allows anyone, no matter who or where they are, to find out whether information is held, and if it is, to have access to it
• Is retrospective in nature
• Creates the office of the Information Commissioner
• Specifies exemptions covering information that does not have to be released
• Requires all organisations in the NHS to set up and maintain publication schemes that tell the public what information is held
• Allows arrangements for enforcement and appeal

For a link to read the full version of the Act click the link below.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/contents 

You can print off any material from this page and its links without obtaining prior permission from the practice but we do charge for providing hard copies or copying onto media such as CDs. For further information about this service please contact the surgery by telephone, or email or in writing.

The ico.website is also provides a helpful guide to Freedom of Information Act as well as the Data Protection Regulations.