Last month, Margaret Keyse, the Acting Scottish Information Commissioner, published her annual report for 2016/17. Amongst other laws, Ms Keyse enforces the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).
The report reveals that during 2016/17:
- Public awareness of FOISA remained at its highest ever level, at 85%.
- The Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner (OSIC) met or exceeded most of its investigation performance targets (10 out of 12).
- It issued its first ever Enforcement Notices.
- It carried out 15 level 4 interventions with authorities to address practice concerns.
- It launched an online appeal service, making it possible for requestors to make appeals online, and receive real-time help and advice, at any time of day.
- It responded to its 20,000th enquiry since 2005.
Act Now has a full programme of FOISA workshops in Scotland. If you are new to FOI in Scotland or want to boost your career through gaining a qualification, our FOISA Practitioner Certificate is ideal. The four day course is endorsed by the Centre for FOI ,based at Dundee University.
The next course starts in Edinburgh in February 2018. If you’re considering enrolling on the course, what can you expect? Read a successful candidate’s observations.
