Text reads: Care 4 FoI? What happens in Scotland’s care homes matters. That is why we support extending FoI to the care sector. To find out more, attend one of CFoIS’ online briefings, held in conjunction with supporting organisations, about extending FoI to the care sector. Photo shows someone giving another person a helping hand

Text reads: What: Care 4 FoI? With The Jimmy Reid Foundation When: Thursday 12 February at 5:00PM to 6:00PM GMT Where: Online Cost: Free Tickets are available to book now via Eventbrite.

Attend the CFoIS-led event 'Care 4 FoI' with @reidfoundation.bsky.social on Thursday to find out more! Get a free ticket via Eventbrite now: www.eventbrite.com/e/1980371899...

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #foi #ati

Text reads: Care 4 FoI? All providers of care home and ‘care at home’ services should be covered by FoI law to ensure equality on the delivery of transparency rights and compliance with duties. To find out more, attend one of CFoIS’ online briefings, held in conjunction with supporting organisations, about extending FoI to the care sector. Photo shows two people holding hands

Confirmed so far are: What: Care 4 FoI? With UNISON When: Wednesday 4 February at 11:30AM to 12:30PM GMT, and Thursday 12 February at 5:00PM to 6:00PM GMT Where: Online Cost: Free What: Care 4 FoI? With The Jimmy Reid Foundation When: Thursday 12 February at 5:00PM to 6:00PM GMT Where: Online Cost: Free Tickets are available to book now via Eventbrite.

CFoIS to hold 'Care 4 FoI' briefings with UNISON and The Jimmy Reid Foundation in February. Get a free ticket via Eventbrite now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/cfois-3106...

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #foi #ati

CFoIS Director writes about the need for FoI reform for Scottish Legal News

CFoIS Director Carole Ewart has written an opinion piece for Scottish Legal News about recent developments in Scotland’s FOI regime and the need for reform.

Read the full article here: www.scottishlegal.com/articles/car...

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #foi #ati

FoI Reform Bill Update SPPA Committee publishes Stage 1 Report on the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill

The Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland (CFoIS) is surprised and disappointed that the SPPA Committee will not recommend the General Principles of the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament. If a majority of MSPs follow the Committee’s recommendation, the Bill ‘falls’ and cannot become law. The Bill is the product of nine years of work by CFoIS to reform FoI law because the Scottish Government has repeatedly declined to introduce legislation to fix the problems identified by the public, practitioners, academics, the independent regulator, trade unions and campaigners.

The 2020 inquiry report from the Scottish Parliament’s post legislative scrutiny of FoI law “…demonstrated that there are clear weaknesses with the current legislative framework.” The PAPLS Committee’s Legacy Report recommended “… that the next Parliament robustly pursues the Committee’s recommendations to ensure that the Scottish Government makes the necessary changes.”

It is now up to the Scottish Parliament to decide if it will pass the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill and deliver this six years old recommendation.

CFoIS is surprised and disappointed that the SPPA Committee will not recommend the General Principles of the FoI Reform (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament.

Find out more about the Stage 1 Report here.

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #foi #ati

Time is up today! Will the Scottish Government choose transparency or secrecy?

The Scottish Information Commissioner has issued the Scottish Government with a warning letter following its failure to comply with the requirements of Decision 281/2025 within the legal required timescale, setting a new deadline of Thursday the 22nd of January (today), to release the information. The Decision concerned a request for communications and information relating to the James Hamilton Report and associated published legal advice.

Will the Scottish Government comply with the Scottish Information Commissioner’s ruling to release all the specified files relating to James Hamilton's investigation into whether the former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, broke the ministerial code? The clock is ticking.

The clock is ticking on a Scottish Information Commissioner's Decision regarding the Scottish Government's compliance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #foi #ati

It’s clear that access-to-information laws matter most when they’re enforceable, adaptive & responsive to how public services are actually delivered today.

Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill moves firmly in this direction. @cfoiscot.bsky.social
#FoISAReform25 #OpenParliaments #ATI

“As an independent researcher working on transparency, accountability, and open parliaments, I welcome the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill as a timely and well-grounded effort to strengthen access to information in a modern democratic context.” - Idah Knowles, Independent Researcher

@idahknowles.bsky.social, an Independent Researcher based in Washington praises the FoI Reform (Scotland) Bill for being "timely and well-grounded".

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #foi #ati

Care 4 FoI? In conjunction with The Jimmy Reid Foundation. Free Location: Online 12 February from 5:00PM to 6:00PM GMT

CFoIS announces the second event in a series called ‘Care 4 FoI?’, co-hosted with The Jimmy Reid Foundation. Attendees will be briefed on the Freedom of Information (Reform) Bill and the government's Consultation on extending FoI to the care sector.

Book a free ticket via Eventbrite now!

CFoIS announces a series of briefings, called ‘Care 4 FoI?’. Find out more about the second event, co-hosted with the Jimmy Reid Foundation, and book a free ticket via Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/care-4-foi...

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #event #foi

January Newsletter Inside the latest instalment of our newsletter

FoISA celebrates 21 years Report on Scottish Public Information Forum (SPIF) Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill Update Scottish Government launches consultation on extending FoI to care sector Events FoI Roundup FoI in Europe and Globally and more...

Have a look inside the January instalment of our newsletter!

If you want to find out more, sign up to our newsletter via the ‘Support Us’ page on our website: www.cfois.scot/support-us/

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi

Care 4 FoI? In conjunction with UNISON. Free Location: Online 4 February from 11:30AM to 12:30PM GMT

CFoIS announces the first event in a series called ‘Care 4 FoI?’, co-hosted with UNISON. Attendees will be briefed on the Freedom of Information (Reform) Bill and the government's Consultation on extending FoI to the care sector.

Book a free ticket via Eventbrite now!

CFoIS announces a series of briefings, called ‘Care 4 FoI?’.

Find out more about the first event, co-hosted with UNISON Scotland, and book a free ticket via Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/care-4-foi...

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #event #foi

Scottish Government launches consultation on extending FoI to care sector

CFoIS welcomes the publication of the Scottish Government’s consultation on the Extension of Freedom of Information in (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) to private and third sector providers of care home and ‘care at home’ services. CFoIS believes all providers of such care services should be covered by FoI law to ensure equality on the delivery of transparency rights and compliance with duties.

Section 2 of the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill closes a legal loophole so that if the Scottish Government chooses not to extend FoISA to a public service, Parliament can act instead. For example, if the Bill is passed by MSPs before 25th March 2026 and the Scottish Government declines to designate private and third sector providers of care home and 'care at home' services Parliament can decide to use its new power and commence the designation process under FoISA. The process is robust as it requires consultation, evidence gathering and debate so an informed decision is made by all MSPs in the public interest.

CFoIS is organising one hour online briefings, ‘Care 4 FoI?’, in conjunction with supporting organisations. More information on these events will be circulated soon. CFoIS encourages supporters to engage with the consultation in tandem with support for the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill campaign. If you want an enforceable right to access information from private and third sector providers of care home and care at home services, please give your views to the consultation by the 30th of March.

CFoIS welcomes the publication of the Scottish Government’s consultation on extending FoI to the care sector.

Find out more here: consult.gov.scot/communicatio...

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #scotland #foi

“What happens here in Scotland—your Freedom of Information Reform Bill—matters to us in Poland, and indeed, to many others in Europe.” - Marzena Błaszczyk, Sieć Obywatelska Watchdog Polska (Citizens Network Watchdog Poland)

What happens in Scotland matters in Poland and to many others in Europe, says Marzena from @siecobywatelska.bsky.social

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #scotland #foi

CFoIS submits additional evidence to the SPPA Committee

CFoIS has submitted additional, written evidence to the SPPA Committee following the four oral evidence sessions in November and as a result of the Memorandum submitted by the Scottish Government setting out its views on the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill. Supplementary evidence, dated 8th December 2025, was sent to the Committee and an additional letter, dated 12th December, addressed to the SPPA Committee Convener Martin Whitfield MSP. The latter deals with the Bill and Section 48 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

The letter begins: “At the oral evidence session on 27th November for Stage 1 of the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill, the issue was raised as to why the Bill did not amend section 48 (b) and (c) of FoISA. CFoIS would welcome amendments at stage 2 to extend the power of the Commissioner to receive an application for review under 47(1) in respect of a procurator fiscal or the Lord Advocate”. Thereafter, the letter sets out issues which may affect the drafting a competent amendment.

The issues identified in the letter include: The inability to modify the legal effect of the legal provision which governs the Lord Advocate’s duties to disclose information (s.48(5) of the Scotland Act); An amendment to the Bill cannot modify the legal effect of the safeguard of the Lord Advocate’s ability to take entirely independent decisions on criminal prosecution and the investigation of deaths; and The UK Freedom of Information Act 2000 does not make corresponding provision in respect of decisions taken by the Crown Prosecution Service and, as an Act of the UK Parliament, it is not subject to the same constraints as Acts of the Scottish Parliament.

CFoIS recently submitted Supplementary Evidence on the FoI Reform Bill to the SPPA Committee. Find out more in these graphics and via our website: cfois.scot/foisa-bill/

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #scotland #foi

“Finally, it is also an important right in a free society to be freely allowed to contribute to society’s well-being. However, if that is to occur, it must be possible for society’s state of affairs to become known to everyone, and it must be possible for everyone to speak his mind freely about it. Where this is lacking, liberty is not worth its name.” - Peter Forsskål

In light of Dr David Goldberg's recent speech at Helena Jäderblom's retirement in which he quoted Peter Forsskål, we wanted to remind everyone of the quote, which perfectly sums up Freedom of Information.

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #foi #forsskal

CFoIS provides supplementary evidence to the SPPA Committee

CFoIS has submitted additional, written evidence to the SPPA Committee following the four oral evidence sessions in November and as a result of the Memorandum submitted by the Scottish Government setting out its views on the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill.

Supplementary evidence sent to the Committee and dated 8th December 2025 refers to: Culture Change The New Mechanism for Designation of Public Bodies under FoISA Information provided to the Commissioner Removing the First Minister’s Power of Veto Proactive Publication The Glacial Pace of Legal Reform of FoISA What MSPs do in in this session of Parliament Matters

The Glacial Pace of non-legislative measures after the consultations Costs Current requirement to provide training Current requirement to pro-actively publish information Current requirement to have good records management for the effective and efficient answering of FOI requests Costs to the Scottish Government Global Impact Read the document, available on the CFoIS website, in full now.

CFoIS submitted Supplementary Evidence to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, on the 8th of December, which is available to read now via our website: www.cfois.scot/foisa-bill/

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #scotland #foi

International Human Rights Day 2025 Freedom of Information as an ‘Everyday Essential’

The United Nations International Human Rights Day 2025 theme is ‘Everyday Essentials’. The right to Freedom of Information (FoI) is exercised and makes a difference in people’s lives on a daily basis and, as such, is an ‘Everyday Essential’. Freedom of Information is for everyone. Regardless of whether you are a member of the public, a journalist or a campaigner and regardless of your background, you can use FoI to obtain information from public services.

In Scotland, FoI has been used to: Obtain Faslane’s radioactive secrets, due to an investigation by The Ferret; Ascertain the financial model relating to the PFI contract for Kilmarnock Prison from the Scottish Prison Service, as a result of an FoI request made by Unison Scotland; Reveal a 1000 day wait for Scottish children to receive autism and ADHD care, due to investigations by The Herald; Uncover MSPs detailed expenses dating back to 1999, following a four year wait and application to the Commissioner by the requestor, a journalist at TheSunday Herald.

While the International community celebrates Human Rights, Scotland has the chance to uphold Human Rights by strengthening protections for FoI, enhancing transparency and enabling accountability, if Parliament passes the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill.

On Human Rights Day 2025, CFoIS looks at Freedom of Information as an Essential Everyday right.

#HumanRightsDay #HRD25 #FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights

CFoIS stands with other human rights defenders who fulfil duties and promote FoI rights in Scotland, the Scottish Information Commissioner and his team, as well as the FoI workers in the 10,000 public bodies designated under FoISA.

CFoIS celebrates our work as a human rights defending organisation, through our campaign to secure an enforceable right to ask. CFoIS assisted Katy Clark MSP with the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill, which is currently at Stage 1 and represents an opportunity for Scotland to lead the way on FoI as it will facilitate better transparency and accountability within our public institutions.

Today, on International Human Rights Defenders Day, CFoIS stands with other human rights defenders who fulfil duties and promote FoI rights in Scotland.

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #humanrightsdefendersday

Care Home Relatives Scotland The aim of Care Home Relatives Scotland was to bring together people who had loved ones living in nursing and residential homes during the pandemic. Since then, the group has worked on campaigns with the aim of achieving better transparency and accountability within the care sector.

Care Home Relatives Scotland has worked closely with the Government and politicians, achieving significant improvements to care home visiting guidance put in place during the pandemic. They continue to campaign for Anne’s Law to be implemented and are core participants in the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry. The group support extending Freedom of Information laws to cover care homes and support services operated by the private and third sectors, so that those seeking to receive information on their own or a relative’s treatment have an enforceable right to request that information.

The third organisation we are taking a look at as part of our celebration of International Human Rights Defenders Day is Care Home Relatives Scotland!

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #humanrightsdefendersday

FragDenStaat FragDenStaat is a Freedom of Information portal which assists people to make requests and enforce their right to acces information. More than 130,000 people have filed over 250,000 requests using the portal, increasing access to information, transparency and accountability in public authorities.

FragDenStaat uses information gained from requests made under the Freedom of Information Act to publish investigative research. Their recent publications expose a convicted neo-Nazi MEP who plundered EU funds, routine secrecy surrounding meetings about AI regulation, a tax haven in a Northern German forest, and much more. The organisation also files lawsuits to fight for better enforcement of Freedom of Information in Germany and assists others to file lawsuits about their own requests.

The second organisation we are taking a look at as part of our celebration of International Human Rights Defenders Day is @fragdenstaat.de!

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #humanrightsdefendersday

Sieć Obywatelska Watchdog Polska is dedicated to defending and strengthening the right of access to public information. For over 20 years, the organisation has supported citizens, journalists, community groups and activists who use freedom of information on a daily basis in order to make informed decisions and hold power to account.

In 2024, Sieć Obywatelska Watchdog Polska won a case at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), which was a landmark ruling for freedom of expression. The group had inquired about the calendars of constitutional judges in Poland, as they wanted to know who they were meeting with. The Constitutional Tribunal refused their request, claiming that the calendars were not public information. The ECtHR ruled that access to public information is part of freedom of expression, especially for watchdogs acting in the public interest.

The first organisation we are taking a look at as part of our celebration of International Human Rights Defenders Day is @siecobywatelska.bsky.social!

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #humanrightsdefendersday

Text: International Human Rights Defenders Day 2025 Spotlighting human rights defenders that have fought for an enforceable right to ask information. Photo shows three activists with signs which read 'take a stand', 'fight for your rights', and 'resist together'.

In a series of posts, CFoIS takes the opportunity to spotlight organisations and individuals that have made a positive difference towards securing an enforceable right to ask information on International Human Rights Defenders Day 2025 (9th December).

In honour of International Human Rights Defenders Day today, CFoIS takes a look at organisations and individuals who have fought for the right to ask.

Look out for our upcoming posts!

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #humanrightsdefendersday

SPPA Committee receives 108 Stage 1 Consultation Responses to the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill

The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments (SPPA) Committee recently a call for views on the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill, receiving 108 responses, with about 60 of these coming from the public.

This is an impressive response rate as it was a four week process. The submissions provide a rich source of information about daily FoI practice across Scotland and evidence why reform is needed on the problems addressed by the Bill. The SPICe summary of the submissions also evidence a significant majority in support of the Bill.

Some of the responses have been published online and are available to read on the Scottish Parliament’s website.

The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee received 108 responses to its consultation on the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill!

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi

Inside the latest instalment of our newsletter

Information on upcoming free events An update on the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Act UK COVID Inquiry Report Scottish Government commits to reforming the law to combat against SLAPPs FoI Request Roundup FoI in Europe FoI Globally and more...

Have a look inside the November instalment of our newsletter!

If you want to find out more, sign up to our newsletter via the ‘Support Us’ page on our website: cfois.scot/support-us/

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi

“I would like to point out that, not only is there no proof in this case, but there is a complete lack of 'mens rea' which, by definition, tells us that there can be no crime without a vicious will.” - Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods in ‘Legally Blonde’

‘Mens rea’ is a concept in Criminal Law which refers to the ‘mental’ element of a crime. According to criminal law, criminal intention (mens rea) is required for a crime to have been committed. The broad areas of mens rea which are considered in a criminal case include intention, recklessness, negligence, strict liability and knowledge.

Thanks to Elle, the legal concept which applies to the proposed criminal offence of altering records with intent to prevent disclosure contained in the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill, was mainstreamed!

Thanks to Reese Witherspoon's character in 'Legally Blonde', the concept of 'mens rea' was popularised. In this post, we explore how the concept relates to the FoI Reform Bill's proposed criminal offence of altering records!

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #foi #criminallaw #LegallyBlonde

This morning Katy Clark MSP and CFoIS director Carole Ewart gave evidence on the FoI Reform Bill to the SPPA Committee in a session intended to inform consideration of the Bill’s general principles. CFoIS thanks the Committee for having us.

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #foi #Scotland

Event Scottish Public Information Forum (SPIF) Speakers Announcement In celebration of Human Rights Defenders Day and International Human Rights Day Online 1 December 2:00PM to 4:00PM GMT

Speakers at SPIF on Monday include: Felicitas Strickmann, FragDenStaat Marzena Błaszczyk, Citizens Network Watchdog Poland Catherine Russell Care Home Relatives Scotland Reports and updates will be given by: David Hamilton, Scottish Information Commissioner Deborah Clark, UK Information Commissioner’s Office Michael Birrell, Scottish Government Carole Ewart, CFoIS

Felicitas Strickmann, FragDenStaat The NGO will explain its work and how it secured public support to defend and save the FoI law that was due to be abolished by the newly elected German Government in 2024. Marzena Błaszczyk, Citizens Network Watchdog Poland The NGO will explain its work and why Scotland’s FoI Reform Bill is a beacon internationally.

Catherine Russell, Care Home Relatives Scotland On why a reformed FoI law matters in Scotland Tickets are available to book via EventBrite now!

SPIF will convene on Monday, 1st December, with a packed agenda, including speakers from FragDenStaat, @siecobywatelska.bsky.social and Care Home Relatives Scotland.

Book a free ticket here: www.eventbrite.com/e/scottish-p...

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #foi #event

Event The Scottish Public Information Forum (SPIF) will meet on the 1st of December to update on the FoISA Reform Bill and celebrate Human Rights Defenders Day and International Human Rights Day Free Location: Online 1 December at 2:00PM to 4:00PM GMT

The Scottish Public Information Forum (SPIF) will meet on the 1st of December to celebrate Human Rights Defenders Day and International Human Rights Day. An update on the Stage 1 process of the Bill will be provided and the focus of the event will be on championing FoI as an ‘Everyday Essential’ Human Right. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Speakers include: Felicitas Strickmann from FragDenStaat, a non-profit project of the Open Knowledge Foundation Deutschland David Hamilton, Scottish Information Commissioner Deborah Clark, UK Information Commissioner’s Office Michael Birrell, Scottish Government Carole Ewart, CFoIS

Previously, the Scottish Public Information Forum (SPIF) convened, in person at the Scottish Parliament and online, on the 26th September 2025, with 45 people from across Scotland in attendance. You can book a free ticket for SPIF via Eventbrite now.

The next SPIF meeting is just around the corner. The agenda includes a presentation from Felicitas Strickmann of FragDenStaat. Get a ticket now to avoid missing out!

Tickets available here: www.eventbrite.com/e/scottish-p...

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #foi #event

Thank you to the participants in CFoIS' breakout session, ‘The Snakes and Ladders of the Public Interest Test’, for an energetic and engaging session at Holyrood’s FoI Conference yesterday. Thanks to the organisers for having us!

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #foi #holyrood #conference

Thanks to Richard Leonard for attending @KatySClark’s briefing in the FoI Reform Bill. He chaired the parliamentary Inquiry which recommended legal reform of FoI Law in May 2020. 5 years later that will happen if the MSPs Bill is passed.

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #foi

Thank you to @katysclark.bsky.social MSP for holding last night's roundtable at the Scottish Parliament on the FoI Reform (Scotland) Bill! The speeches and discussion provided a much needed opportunity to discuss the Bill's importance

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi