Holyrood ‘has good record’ on FOI

CHANGES to freedom of information (FOI) laws will continue the Scottish Government’s “good record” in this area, a minister has said.

Parliamentary business minister Brian Adam spoke out as plans aimed at strengthening FOI laws were published for consultation.

Information Commissioner Kevin Dunion said the country could be left behind the rest of the UK because fewer organisations would be required to comply with freedom of information laws.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said ministers believed it would be premature to extend the number of bodies subject to FOI before the legislation was updated.

She added: “At a time of economic difficulty, it would not be appropriate to introduce further regulation on hard-pressed organisations.”