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One of the Commissioner's functions is to promote public awareness of freedom of information. View our latest activity, such as news releases, statements, speeches and publications here. You can also follow us on X (@FOIScotland), BlueSky (@foi.scot) and subscribe to our Open Update newsletter for more from the Commissioner's office.

2024

29 December 2024 - Commissioner calls for reform of FOI rights

18 December 2024 - Commissioner's statement following the independent review of the Scottish Government's use of mobile messaging tools

16 December 2024 - Commissioner's correspondence with the Scottish Government on the disclosure of legal advice

2 December 2024 - Join the celebration of some major FOI milestones

31 October 2024 - Joint Statement from the Independent Scottish Parliamentary Officeholders

29 October 2024 - Press statement: further clarification following the disclosure of Scottish Government legal advice

26 October 2024 - Commissioner's statement on the Scottish Government's disclosure of legal advice 

25 October 2024 - Summary of FOI Appeals related to James Hamilton report and investigation

23 October 2024 - Commissioner publishes legal advice from court appeal

11 October 2024 - Scottish Information Commissioner visits Ukraine to help develop FOI framework for Martial Law

28 September 2024 - On International Right to Know day, our Ukrainian colleague Alex Bezverkhnia considers the differences between the Scottish and Ukranian FOI laws

26 September 2024 - Commissioner David Hamilton marks International Right to Know day with reflection on the value of international FOI relations

9 September 2024 - Commissioner requires disclosure of Scottish Government legal advice on failed freedom of information appeal

21 June 2024 - Commissioner escalates intervention to bring FOI improvement to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

3 June 2024 - We've moved our digital home!

29 May 2024 - Survey finds strong public support for FOI - alongside support for a stronger FOI law

20 March 2024 - Read our 2023 Holyrood Conference Workshop - Improving FOI Performance - Tips from Practitioners

4 February 2024 - Commissioner launches new intervention into Scottish Government use of informal communication tools

2023
2022
2021

2021

17 December 2021: Temporary premises closure extended to 28 February 2022

16 December 2021: Enforcement action reminds authorities not to share a requester's identity

26 November 2021: Read highlights from our workshop to improve public authority FOI performance

23 November 2021: Commissioner reflects on FOI in 2021

15 October 2021: Scottish Information Commissioner publishes Annual Report 2020-21

12 October 2021: Shining a spotlight on access to environmental information

5 October 2021: Online events mark Access to Information Day

1 October 2021: Latest changes to FOI legislation now in force

20 September 2021: Temporary premises closure extended to 31 December 2021

9 September 2021: The time is right to improve our access to information

8 September 2021: "A highlight in the calendar" - online conference showcases resilience of FOI practitioners

11 August 2021: Commissioner's appeal portal closed

6 July 2021: Full programme confirmed for FOI Practitioners' Conference

2 July 2021: Information Commissioners highlight importance of proactive publication

21 June 2021: Changes to FOI legislation set to be phased out

26 May 2021: Temporary premises closure extended to 30 September 2021

18 May 2021: The FOI Practitioners' Conference is back - book your place now

18 May 2021: MySociety 'Reforming FOI' report

18 May 2021: Time to renew Scotland's approach to FOI publication

7 April 2021: Changing how we seek information from authorities

26 March 2021: Coronavirus legislation extended to 30 September 2021

18 March 2021: FOI rights remain during the pre-election period

16 March 2021: Housing association experience can inform the future of FOI

11 March 2021: Registered Social Landlords 'responding well' to FOI

9 March 2021: Scottish Government announces intention to consult on changes to FOI

2020

2020

Note: the following links lead to the previous version of our website, in the National Records of Scotland's Web Archive.

17 December 2020: Commissioner's Special Report on impact of Covid-19 on FOI published

4 December 2020: New FOI email newsletter launched

1 December 2020: Commissioner reflects on 2020: Information has never been more important

30 October 2020: Update: Temporary premises closure extended to 28 February 2021

28 September 2020: Access to Information Day: Commissioner Daren Fitzhenry highlights importance of FOI

25 September 2020: FOI in changing times: Commissioner publishes Annual Report 2019-2020

18 September 2020: Update: Temporary premises closure extended to 19 October 2020

10 September 2020: Commissioner publishes report on Scottish Government FOI performance

10 August 2020: Update: Temporary premises closure extended to 21 September 2020

27 July 2020: Update: Temporary premises closure extended to 10 August 2020

23 June 2020: Service update: Temporary premises closure extended to 31 July 2020

17 June 2020: Commissioner's letter to Committee about report on post-legislative scrutiny of FOI Act [PDF]

8 June 2020: The Herald: Commissioner's article highlights importance of FOI

8 June 2020: UPDATE: Our services and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic

28 May 2020: New changes to emergency FOI provisions now in force

21 May 2020: Changes to FOI timescales repealed by new Coronavirus Bill

19 May 2020: FOISA Post-Legislative Scrutiny Committee report published

13 May 2020: Temporary closure of office premises extended to 29 May 2020

28 April 2020: Temporary closure of office premises extended to 15 May 2020

16 April 2020: New FOI and Covid-19 information hub launched

15 April 2020: Statement from ICIC on access to information during Covid-19 pandemic

6 April 2020: Temporary closure of Scottish Information Commissioner's office extended

2 April 2020: Coronavirus Bill will make temporary changes to FOI law

31 March 2020: Commissioner's briefing for MSPs on FOI provisions of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill

20 March 2020: Covid-19 virus: information for requesters

18 March 2020: Temporary closure of Scottish Information Commissioner's office due to Covid-19 virus

18 March 2020: Commissioner's Strategic Plan 2020-24 laid before Scottish Parliament

13 March 2020: Commissioner's statement on the impact of the Covid-19 virus on FOI timescales

6 February 2020: Registration now open for the 2020 Centre for FOI Conference in Dundee [later postponed]

 

2019 and older

2003-2019

See older articles in our News Archive (on the previous version of our website, in the National Records of Scotland's Web Archive).