Human rights seminar marks 30 years of campaigning for freedom of information in Scotland

The Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland (CFoIS) turns 30 this year. And it is marking the anniversary with a major seminar in Glasgow on Friday (26 September) exploring whether FOI is part of the human rights agenda, and what still needs to be done to improve the law in Scotland. The event is also Scotland’s celebration of International Right to Know Day, which is on the 28 September.

Aidan O'Neil QC

Leading public, employment and human rights lawyer, Aidan O’Neil QC will address the issue of human rights and freedom of information.

Carole Ewart, Convenor of the CFoIS said

‘We are delighted that Aidan O’Neil can come and address our seminar on this important topic. As constitutional issues across the UK come up for discussion, we need to raise the importance of FOI and develop thinking on the interdependence of human rights and access to information, so we can inform debate on national and local issues.”

Another topic that will be discussed is the relative health of FOI legislation, North and South of the border.

Carole Ewart said

Carole Ewart

            “While there have been things to celebrate in the last 30 years, there is still much to be done. In particular the inclusion of Arms-Length bodies set up by public authorities, and ‘public’ bodies like Registered Social Landlords. We are concerned that Scotland is lagging behind the rest of the UK in maintaining a progressive and effective FOI regime.”

The seminar is being held jointly with Strathclyde University’s Centre for the Study of Human Rights Law at 2.00pm in the University’s Lord Hills Building. It is supported by the NUJ in Scotland.

Tickets are available from https://www.eventbrite.com/e/is-accessing-information-a-human-right-lessons-for-scotland-tickets-12969904333?invite=&err=29&referrer=&discount=&affiliate=&eventpassword=

Scottish Parliament has key opportunity to boost Freedom of Information

The Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland (CFoIS) is cranking up its campaigning this week to urge the Scottish Parliament to back a series of amendments to the Scottish Government’s Freedom of Information (Scotland) Amendment Bill. This Bill will have its Stage 3 debate in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 16 Jan and a series of amendments are proposed to ensure FOI rights extend to public services provided by private, voluntary and arms-length bodies. 

The CFoIS wants the Scottish Government to heed the concerns expressed by the Finance Committee’s Stage One report. The Campaign is taking part in a briefing meeting for MSPs on Tuesday 15 Jan, the day before the Parliamentary debate, and will be circulating a written briefing outlining the need to amend this bill to reinstate eroded rights to information. The meeting will be chaired by Paul Martin MSP, and addressed by Carole Ewart of the CFoIS, and Dave Moxham of the STUC.

Carole Ewart, Co-Convener of the CFoIS, said

Carole Ewart - co-convener, CFoIS

“A number of MSPs, including members of the Finance Committee, have submitted amendments to this Bill, as the Scottish Government appears unable or unwilling to accept our arguments in favour of protecting our information rights.”

The major reason why the Bill should be strengthened is to retrieve peoples’s information rights lost as increasing outsourcing of our public services removes services from coverage.  Neither the Scottish Government nor previous Scottish Executive Administrations have ever used their powers to add named bodies and categories of bodies to the list of organisations covered.

Amending the Bill is also necessary to meet the Scottish Government’s own FoI principles, 1 and 2: that “the public’s right to know remains an essential part of an open, democratic government and responsive public services” and FoISA “will be adjusted where it is necessary and sensible to do so”

You are all urged to get in touch with your MSP to lobby them to support the amendments (Amendments 1-9, 12 and 14) being backed by the Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland. There is  an email message available on the UNISONScotland website, that allows Campaign supporters to lobby their MSPs easily. 

Carole Ewart said  “At a time when Audit Scotland estimates over 130 arms-length bodies are involved in delivering public services, and when the Scottish Government is proposing bills like the Procurement, and Community Empowerment Bills that will bring more bodies into public service delivery, it is very concerning that they seem oblivious to the threats these pose to everyone’s right to know about how our cash is spent.”

An article on the need for a 'purpose clause' in the legislation written by the Captain is also published today's Scottish Review.

• a copy of the briefing sent to MSPs in advance of the debate will be available  from Monday on the CFoI website at http://www.cfoi.org.uk/scotland.htmlhttp://www.cfoi.org.uk/scotland.html