Scotland 'falling behind' as Freedom of Information plans are ditched

Published on Saturday 29 January 2011 10:07

SCOTLAND is in danger of "falling behind" in its approach to legislation aimed at increasing transparency and openness in public life, the country's Information Commissioner has warned.

Kevin Dunion's warning follows the SNP government's decision to ditch plans to bring a raft of public bodies under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act, as well as some private firms providing public services. Private companies who run hospitals under the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) are exempt from the Act.

Dunion said: "My concern is that having been somewhat ahead of the game, we're now in danger of falling behind in terms of the scope of Freedom of Information. We have very strong evidence of public support for this. Something like 81 per cent of people are in favour of hospitals being brought within the scope of Freedom of Information."

"If you were concerned about the condition of a ward, or the condition of a classroom or the fabric of the building in which your family were treated or your children were educated, that information would not necessarily be held by the health board or local authority, it would be held by a private company. At the moment none of these questions necessarily will be answered under Freedom of Information - if answered at all."

In December 2009 the Scottish Government said it was considering extending FoI to such firms, as well as private businesses who run prisons or provide prison escort services. Trusts running local authority sports, leisure and cultural facilities were also in line to be designated, as well as the Glasgow Housing Association and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland.

But the Scottish Government said on Wednesday - just as Tommy Sheridan's perjury sentence was dominating the news - that the proposals would not proceed. Parliamentary business minister Bruce Crawford said it would be "premature" to extend coverage before other deficiencies in the Act can be put right.