What is the Freedom of Information Act?
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000, which came about as a result of one of the major commitments in the Labour Party’s 1997 manifesto, creates new rights of public access to information held by public authorities, as defined under the Act. The Act only applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A separate Freedom of Information Act applies to Scotland. The Act specifically defines GPs as public authorities. The Information Commissioner, who regulates the Act, has ruled that GPs may act co-operatively within their practice structure to discharge their obligations under the Act.
