Freedom of information: falling short after 20 years?

Information

In partnership with the Scottish Information Commissioner 

Twenty years ago, freedom of information (FOI) legislation was introduced to Scotland, with around 90,000 FOI requests now made annually. From families to community campaigners and the media, they've all used FOI requests to discover ‘hidden’ facts and stories about public bodies in the public interest. Have FOI requests increased public trust and transparency, or could they be seen as a burden of time and money? What challenges does FOI face in a digital world and is the legislation as robust as it needs to be, given policy makers still need a safe space to develop without the fear of disclosure? 

Panellists: 

David Hamilton is the Scottish Information Commissioner. He is a former senior police officer and a former Chair of the Scottish Police Federation, with a diverse experience of work and experience. He is a trustee of a number of charities and chair of his local community council.

Patricia Anderson, is a co-founder and spokesperson of the Give Them Time campaign, advocating for all eligible four-year-olds in Scotland to access a funded nursery year if deferring school. She led FOI research exposing postcode inequalities, engaged MSPs, and helped secure legislation guaranteeing this universal right, ensuring fairness and consistency.