This book is the only in-depth guide to Scotland’s freedom of information (FOI) regime. Written by Kevin Dunion, the first Scottish Information Commissioner, it provides detailed commentary on the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004. It is fully referenced, using the Commissioner’s own decisions and court judgements and provides a unique insight into the Commissioner’s role in determining appeals and ensuring adherence to the Code of Practice. It considers key issues of interpretation that have arisen since the law came into effect, including those exemptions c ... More

This book is the only in-depth guide to Scotland’s freedom of information (FOI) regime. Written by Kevin Dunion, the first Scottish Information Commissioner, it provides detailed commentary on the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004. It is fully referenced, using the Commissioner’s own decisions and court judgements and provides a unique insight into the Commissioner’s role in determining appeals and ensuring adherence to the Code of Practice. It considers key issues of interpretation that have arisen since the law came into effect, including those exemptions concerning personal information, official advice, and the formulation of policy. It also covers the application of the ‘harm’ and ‘public interest’ tests. It includes a fully annotated version of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, along with case studies that illustrate the practical application of the legislation. It also includes a detailed interpretation of the Environmental Information Regulations, and highlights important differences between these regulations and general FOI law. It considers the state of FOI in Scotland by comparing it to provisions and developments in the rest of the UK and internationally.