News In Focus
19 November 2007
Less awareness of FOI among needy groups
Public awareness of freedom of information is high, but some groups may be lagging behind, the Scottish Information Commissioner has warned.
Research published by the commissioner today has shown that 74% of those surveyed know about freedom of information, but young people, the elderly and those with disabilities do not have the same awareness.
The research also found that:
- 64% of respondents believe that Scottish public authorities are becoming more open and accountable as a result of FOI;
- 69% feel that more information is available from public authorities than ever before;
- 69% feel that Scottish public authorities are more open and accountable than their equivalents in the rest of the UK;
- 57% nevertheless believe that public authorities would find a way round their FOI responsibilities if they do not want to provide information;
- 73% of respondents who reported having made an FOI request to a public authority received all the information they had asked for.
There has been no direct advertising of FOI to the public since 2005. The most common sources of awareness of FOI were reported to be newspapers (31%) and TV programmes (30%).
Kevin Dunion, the Scottish Information Comissioner said: “Scotland’s FOI rights are available to all, and it is important that every sector of society - and particularly the most vulnerable - can exercise them. Access to information can be a powerful tool in helping to change an individual’s circumstances. We need to ensure that all groups in society are fully aware of their rights.”
The full research report is available from the Commissioner’s website at www.itspublicknowledge.info .