Human rights
20 public bodies pressing for restrictions on public right to know
Twenty public sector bodies have urged MSPs to weaken freedom of information law by increasing charges, widening exemptions and relaxing deadlines.
Scottish Information Commissioner
Human rights, Privacy and surveillance
Scottish Government departments failing on freedom of information
The efforts of departments in the Scottish Government to improve their freedom of information performance have been "disappointing", according to Scotland's information watchdog.
Human rights, Politics
Council officials push to weaken freedom of information law
Senior local authority officials are lobbying to relax freedom of information law so that they can increase charges, delay responses and reject more requests as “vexatious”.
Human rights, Politics
Journalists call for reform to stop public agencies blocking freedom of information
Repeated attempts by government agencies in Scotland to block public access to information show that freedom of information law should be strengthened, say journalists.
Housing and homelessness, Human rights
Anger over delays to information rights for housing association tenants
Scottish ministers have postponed plans to restore freedom of information rights to thousands of housing association tenants, prompting accusations of “broken promises”.
Human rights, Politics
Information watchdog names bodies probed for ‘failures’
The Scottish Information Commissioner has intervened in ten different public agencies to try and remedy transparency failings over the last year, a report reveals.
Politics
Scottish Government breaching freedom of information law, says watchdog
The Scottish Government has been condemned by its freedom of information watchdog for breaking the law by blocking requests from journalists and MSPs.
Environment, Human rights
We planned to avoid freedom of information law, says council
A senior planning official has admitted circumventing freedom of information law, by receiving vital environmental data from fish farmers “face to face”.
Politics
Scottish ministers under fire for freedom of information breaches
Journalists have accused the Scottish Government of failing to keep records and frustrating freedom of information law.