Members of the public will be able to submit Freedom of
Information requests to arm’s length sports, cultural and recreational
trusts from April 1.
The
new legislation reinforces the Scottish Government’s commitment to
ensuring bodies who are spending public money are open, transparent and
accountable.
For
example Freedom of Information coverage will be extended to trusts which have
been created by local authorities to deliver sports facilities or activities on
their behalf.
Other changes to Freedom of Information legislation
include reducing the lifespans of certain exemptions from 30 years to 15 so
information over 15 years old will no longer be able to be withheld using those
exemptions if it is requested.
The
Scottish Government already opens its files after 15 years. The policy has so
far seen over 13,000 government archived files held at the National Records of
Scotland opened earlier than originally scheduled.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
said:
“Scotland has the most robust Freedom of
Information regime in the UK and these latest orders show our commitment to
ensuring the legislation is used effectively.
“The bodies becoming subject to FOI perform key
public functions supported by the public purse. It is right that they should
provide information to the public on things like their spending and decision
making.
“By extending the legislation’s coverage we
are sending out a clear message on openness and transparency and recognising
they are both crucial factors in holding bodies to account for their
actions.
“Additionally, by reducing the lifespans of key
exemptions, more public information will be available to the public at an
earlier stage.”
In 2013, the Scottish Parliament agreed the terms of two
orders made under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, which will
both come into force on April 1 2014.
The
order extending coverage of the Act, applies to certain trusts created or
established by local authorities whose functions include developing and/or
delivering recreational, sporting, cultural or social facilities and
activities.
The
legislation is designed to capture a class of body and for flexibility it
describes their functions, rather than naming particular bodies. It is up to
the bodies potentially falling within the scope, along with the Commissioner in
the event of any dispute, to decide who is covered.
Bodies falling within coverage have been provided with
training and assistance by the Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner
(OSIC).