The scope of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act is the focus of a Scottish Government consultation that began on 28 July 2010. The consultation seeks views on whether the existing legislation should be widened to cover a greater range of bodies who deliver public services in Scotland. Organisations under consideration are contractors who build and/or maintain schools, hospitals and roads; private prison operators; leisure, sport and cultural trusts set up by local authorities; Glasgow Housing Association and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland. The consultation process will run for 14 weeks, until 2 November 2010. The organisations to be consulted are: trusts and bodies established by local authorities with responsibility for providing leisure, sport and cultural services, which deliver services of a major benefit, and receive significant public money; private; prison operators, which provide services normally provided centrally by Government; Glasgow Housing Association; the Association of the Chief Police Officers in Scotland, which oversees and coordinates the direction and development of the Scottish police services, and which receives significant public funding; and private contractors who build and/or maintain schools and hospitals, and those who operate and maintain trunk roads across Scotland, which are key areas of public service which are often delivered under private contract.

James Goudie QC

Tags: Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act

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