Introduction to Freedom of Information

Background

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 1997, effective from 21st April 1998 establishes three new statutory rights :

• a legal right for each person to access information held by public bodies;
• a legal right for each person to have official information relating to him/herself amended where it is incomplete, incorrect or misleading; and
• a legal right to obtain reasons for decisions affecting oneself.

The Act asserts the right of members of the public to obtain access to official information to the greatest extent possible consistent with the public interest and the right to privacy of individuals.