Scottish Information Commissioner

What’s the cost of public access to public sector information? What’s the cost of not having it? 🕵️‍♀️ #FOI at 20: where do we stand? Join us @VisitScotParl to explore this and other issues on 22 August at #FoP2025 👉 tinyurl.com/FOIatFOP

📣 Join us for SPIF on 26 Sept, 11am–1pm at the Scottish Parliament! We're marking 20 years of FOI and celebrating International Right to Know Day. Free to attend - but tickets are limited. Book yours now at: tinyurl.com/SPIF25! #SPIF2025 #RightToKnow #FOI #FOIat20

📢Ensure you don’t include copyright statements in FOI responses as standard. They should only appear when relevant—e.g. if third-party material is disclosed. Misuse can confuse requesters & restrict legitimate reuse. ⚠️ #FOI Read more at: tinyurl.com/FOIJuly

90,000+ FOI requests each year and countless public benefits. Has FOI improved public trust? We think so. Join us to celebrate 20 years of FOI at #FestivalofPolitics at Scottish Parliament on 22/08. Tickets available 👉 tinyurl.com/FOIatFOP

📁 When is info held by a contractor also held by a public authority under FOI? In a recent decision we found software licence dates weren’t closely linked to core functions—so not “held” on the authority’s behalf. For more info visit: tinyurl.com/FOIJuly

📅 Friday 22 August | 🕝 2:30–3:45pm 📍 Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh "Freedom of Information: falling short after 20 years?" Join the debate 👉 tinyurl.com/FOIatFOP #FoP2025 #FOI #RightToKnow

📢 Save the date! The next Scottish Public Information Forum meets on Friday 26 Sept 2025, 11am–1pm at the Scottish Parliament to mark International Right to Know Day. 🗓️🗣️ Tickets available from: tinyurl.com/SPIF25 #SPIF2025 #RightToKnow #FOI #FOISA20

📃In a recent decision, a council wrongly applied FOI exemptions before realising the info didn’t match the date range in the request. Authorities must read requests carefully to avoid confusion and extra work. Read more at 👉 tinyurl.com/FOIJuly #FOI #TIPS

Have you seen that the Scottish Parliament is hosting an FOI-focused session at this year’s #FestivalOfPolitics?! 🎟️ It’s a ticketed event, so head to tinyurl.com/FOIatFOP for details and to book your place—spaces are limited! #FOI

🌿For the first time, we ruled that a ‘manifestly unreasonable’ EIR request must still be answered in the public interest. Authorities must assess each case properly, taking account of the circumstances of the request. Visit 👉 tinyurl.com/FOIJuly #EIR #FOI

#FlashbackFriday | This time last year, Scottish public bodies received 23,121 FOI requests in the 1st quarter of the year. With this quarter’s stats collection now underway, will this year’s total be higher or lower? 📈📉 Let us know what you think! #FOI #Scotland

🌍 Commissioner David Hamilton has joined the new European Network for Transparency (ENTRI) Executive Committee, following the 2025 ICIC in Berlin. Topics included: access to environmental info, digital publication & FOI threats worldwide. #ICIC2025 tinyurl.com/FOIJuly

Remember to plan FOI cover over the holiday period! Public authorities still need to respond to requests within 20 working days, so make sure your team has the support and resilience to stay on track. #FOI #Scotland

The latest Scottish Public Information Forum covered Katy Clark MSP’s new FOI Bill, @scotgov's FOI priorities & more. The next forum celebrates Right to Know Day, 26/09/25 at the Scottish Parliament. 📅 Keep up to date with our newsletter 👉 tinyurl.com/FOIJuly

🌍 FOI in action! Climate Emergency UK used FOI to shape the 2025 Council Climate Scorecards—gathering vital data & working collaboratively with councils for more targeted results. An interesting example of how FOI drives national research projects 👉 tinyurl.com/FOIJuly

📢 Has Freedom of Information achieved its goals after 20 years? Join the discussion at the Festival of Politics at @ScotParl on Fri 22 Aug! With @FOIScotland & more. Tickets £5–£7.50. Don’t miss out! 🎟️ #FOI20 #FestivalOfPolitics 👉 tinyurl.com/FOIatFOP

📣 Have you used FOI to make a difference? Nominate yourself or others for @Access_Info ’s Helen Darbishire Award—celebrating the achievements of those using their rights across Europe. Open to campaigners, journalists, academics & more! 🌍 👉tinyurl.com/FOIJuly

This year, for the 1st time, CSOs held a parallel NGO Day event at the annual International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC). They adopted the Berlin CSO Declaration on the Right to Information and #EnvironmentalJustice: law-democracy.org/wp-content/upl…