Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland
LightNews LightNews
banner
cfoiscot.bsky.social
Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland
@cfoiscot.bsky.social
150 followers 300 following 130 posts
CFolS campaigns for a robust legal right to access information so people can find out how they are governed and how 'public' services operate.
Posts Replies Media Videos
cfoiscot.bsky.social
Have a look inside the January instalment of our newsletter!

If you want to find out more, sign up to our newsletter via the ‘Support Us’ page on our website: www.cfois.scot/support-us/

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi
January Newsletter Inside the latest instalment of our newsletter FoISA celebrates 21 years Report on Scottish Public Information Forum (SPIF) Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill Update Scottish Government launches consultation on extending FoI to care sector Events FoI Roundup FoI in Europe and Globally and more...
January 16, 2026 at 4:53 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
CFoIS announces a series of briefings, called ‘Care 4 FoI?’.

Find out more about the first event, co-hosted with UNISON Scotland, and book a free ticket via Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/care-4-foi...

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #event #foi
Care 4 FoI? In conjunction with UNISON. Free Location: Online 4 February from 11:30AM to 12:30PM GMT CFoIS announces the first event in a series called ‘Care 4 FoI?’, co-hosted with UNISON. Attendees will be briefed on the Freedom of Information (Reform) Bill and the government's Consultation on extending FoI to the care sector. Book a free ticket via Eventbrite now!
January 15, 2026 at 5:52 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
CFoIS welcomes the publication of the Scottish Government’s consultation on extending FoI to the care sector.

Find out more here: consult.gov.scot/communicatio...

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #scotland #foi
Scottish Government launches consultation on extending FoI to care sector CFoIS welcomes the publication of the Scottish Government’s consultation on the Extension of Freedom of Information in (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) to private and third sector providers of care home and ‘care at home’ services. CFoIS believes all providers of such care services should be covered by FoI law to ensure equality on the delivery of transparency rights and compliance with duties. Section 2 of the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill closes a legal loophole so that if the Scottish Government chooses not to extend FoISA to a public service, Parliament can act instead. For example, if the Bill is passed by MSPs before 25th March 2026 and the Scottish Government declines to designate private and third sector providers of care home and 'care at home' services Parliament can decide to use its new power and commence the designation process under FoISA. The process is robust as it requires consultation, evidence gathering and debate so an informed decision is made by all MSPs in the public interest. CFoIS is organising one hour online briefings, ‘Care 4 FoI?’, in conjunction with supporting organisations. More information on these events will be circulated soon. CFoIS encourages supporters to engage with the consultation in tandem with support for the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill campaign. If you want an enforceable right to access information from private and third sector providers of care home and care at home services, please give your views to the consultation by the 30th of March.
January 14, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Reposted by Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland
campaignfoi.bsky.social
"John Swinney has decided his government should make a court challenge against the Scottish Information Commissioner's decision to order the release of secret evidence given to the James Hamilton investigation into Nicola Sturgeon some five years ago."
January 12, 2026 at 8:55 AM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
Announcement of action to prevent disclosure is disappointing and further delays the public’s right to see and scrutinise information held by the ScotGovt. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2575490...
FM takes court action to stop release of secret Sturgeon files
John Swinney's government has lodged a court challenge against the Scottish Information Commissioner's decision to order the release of secret…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 10, 2026 at 9:15 AM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2574793...
CalMac gets court warning after unlawful secrecy over boss pay-off
The publicly funded ferry operator CalMac broke transparency laws by wrongly hiding the full extent of a former chief executive's severance package…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:52 AM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
What happens in Scotland matters in Poland and to many others in Europe, says Marzena from @siecobywatelska.bsky.social

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #scotland #foi
“What happens here in Scotland—your Freedom of Information Reform Bill—matters to us in Poland, and indeed, to many others in Europe.” - Marzena Błaszczyk, Sieć Obywatelska Watchdog Polska (Citizens Network Watchdog Poland)
January 7, 2026 at 4:15 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
Do you want the enforceable right 2 access info from private & third sector providers of care home & care at home services? Plz give ur views to the ScotGovt consultation launched today @unison.org.uk @unitescotland.bsky.social @rmtunion.bsky.social @nujscotland.bsky.social @fbunational.bsky.social
Extension of Freedom of Information in (Scotland) Acts 2002 (FOISA) to private and third sector providers of care home and ‘care at home’ services - Scottish Government...
Find and participate in consultations run by The Scottish Government
consult.gov.scot
January 5, 2026 at 4:02 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
CFoIS recently submitted Supplementary Evidence on the FoI Reform Bill to the SPPA Committee. Find out more in these graphics and via our website: cfois.scot/foisa-bill/

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #scotland #foi
CFoIS submits additional evidence to the SPPA Committee CFoIS has submitted additional, written evidence to the SPPA Committee following the four oral evidence sessions in November and as a result of the Memorandum submitted by the Scottish Government setting out its views on the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill. Supplementary evidence, dated 8th December 2025, was sent to the Committee and an additional letter, dated 12th December, addressed to the SPPA Committee Convener Martin Whitfield MSP. The latter deals with the Bill and Section 48 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. The letter begins: “At the oral evidence session on 27th November for Stage 1 of the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill, the issue was raised as to why the Bill did not amend section 48 (b) and (c) of FoISA. CFoIS would welcome amendments at stage 2 to extend the power of the Commissioner to receive an application for review under 47(1) in respect of a procurator fiscal or the Lord Advocate”. Thereafter, the letter sets out issues which may affect the drafting a competent amendment. The issues identified in the letter include: The inability to modify the legal effect of the legal provision which governs the Lord Advocate’s duties to disclose information (s.48(5) of the Scotland Act); An amendment to the Bill cannot modify the legal effect of the safeguard of the Lord Advocate’s ability to take entirely independent decisions on criminal prosecution and the investigation of deaths; and The UK Freedom of Information Act 2000 does not make corresponding provision in respect of decisions taken by the Crown Prosecution Service and, as an Act of the UK Parliament, it is not subject to the same constraints as Acts of the Scottish Parliament.
December 23, 2025 at 8:13 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
In light of Dr David Goldberg's recent speech at Helena Jäderblom's retirement in which he quoted Peter Forsskål, we wanted to remind everyone of the quote, which perfectly sums up Freedom of Information.

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #foi #forsskal
“Finally, it is also an important right in a free society to be freely allowed to contribute to society’s well-being. However, if that is to occur, it must be possible for society’s state of affairs to become known to everyone, and it must be possible for everyone to speak his mind freely about it. Where this is lacking, liberty is not worth its name.” - Peter Forsskål
December 19, 2025 at 4:43 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
Dr David Goldberg, the Chair of the Board of CFoIS, recently attended Helena Jäderblom’s retirement in Stockholm to celebrate the support and inspiration which Helena has provided CFoIS with over the years.

#freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #foi #helenajäderblom
Celebrating Helena Jäderblom’s retirement Dr David Goldberg, the Chair of the Board of CFoIS, recently attended Helena Jäderblom’s retirement at the House of Nobility in Stockholm to celebrate the support and inspiration which Helena has provided CFoIS with over the years. Helena was the President of the Supreme Administrative Court of Sweden, Chair of the Council of Europe’s Access Info Group, one of the two monitoring bodies established by the Tromsø Convention and, from 2012 to 2018, she was a judge at the European Court of Human Rights. David gave a presentation, ‘The Principle of FoI in Europe: Past, Present and Future’: The Past: Helena’s work translating Forsskål’s ‘Thoughts on Civil Liberties’ from Swedish into English; The Present: Helena’s involvement with CFoIS and FoI in Scotland, including a possible job for her after retirement casting an eye over the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill; The Future: the role of AI in FoI, amending the European Convention on Human Rights to include a stand alone right of access to information and ongoing work Helena is involved with translating Forsskål’s doctoral dissertation from Latin into English. David represented CFoIS at Helena’s retirement in the Swedish capital, commemorating her contributions to FoI in Scotland and her continued support. CFoIS congratulates Helena on her impressive work, both in Sweden and further afield, and wishes her a happy retirement.
December 18, 2025 at 6:34 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
CFoIS submitted Supplementary Evidence to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, on the 8th of December, which is available to read now via our website: www.cfois.scot/foisa-bill/

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #scotland #foi
CFoIS provides supplementary evidence to the SPPA Committee CFoIS has submitted additional, written evidence to the SPPA Committee following the four oral evidence sessions in November and as a result of the Memorandum submitted by the Scottish Government setting out its views on the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill. Supplementary evidence sent to the Committee and dated 8th December 2025 refers to: Culture Change The New Mechanism for Designation of Public Bodies under FoISA Information provided to the Commissioner Removing the First Minister’s Power of Veto Proactive Publication The Glacial Pace of Legal Reform of FoISA What MSPs do in in this session of Parliament Matters The Glacial Pace of non-legislative measures after the consultations Costs Current requirement to provide training Current requirement to pro-actively publish information Current requirement to have good records management for the effective and efficient answering of FOI requests Costs to the Scottish Government Global Impact Read the document, available on the CFoIS website, in full now.
December 17, 2025 at 5:17 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
Don't forget that nominations for the @ecase.co.uk FOI Awards 2026 are now open!

If you’d like to nominate yourself, a colleague or a team, read the nomination criteria and complete the short nomination form by 2nd January 2026 at 11pm: ecasefoiawards.co.uk/categories/
eCase FOI Awards 2026 eCaseFOIAwards.co.uk
December 17, 2025 at 12:30 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
On Human Rights Day 2025, CFoIS looks at Freedom of Information as an Essential Everyday right.

#HumanRightsDay #HRD25 #FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights
International Human Rights Day 2025 Freedom of Information as an ‘Everyday Essential’ The United Nations International Human Rights Day 2025 theme is ‘Everyday Essentials’. The right to Freedom of Information (FoI) is exercised and makes a difference in people’s lives on a daily basis and, as such, is an ‘Everyday Essential’. Freedom of Information is for everyone. Regardless of whether you are a member of the public, a journalist or a campaigner and regardless of your background, you can use FoI to obtain information from public services. In Scotland, FoI has been used to: Obtain Faslane’s radioactive secrets, due to an investigation by The Ferret; Ascertain the financial model relating to the PFI contract for Kilmarnock Prison from the Scottish Prison Service, as a result of an FoI request made by Unison Scotland; Reveal a 1000 day wait for Scottish children to receive autism and ADHD care, due to investigations by The Herald; Uncover MSPs detailed expenses dating back to 1999, following a four year wait and application to the Commissioner by the requestor, a journalist at TheSunday Herald. While the International community celebrates Human Rights, Scotland has the chance to uphold Human Rights by strengthening protections for FoI, enhancing transparency and enabling accountability, if Parliament passes the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill.
December 10, 2025 at 2:51 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
Human rights matter most when they are hardest to defend.

This Human Rights Day, we’re part of 180+ organisations standing together to call out recent rhetoric from the government and demand better from the PM. We want leadership that strengthens rights.

#HumanRightsDay #HRD25
Photo shows logos of organisations which are signatory to the letter Dear Prime Minister and Political Leaders, This Human Rights Day comes at a significant moment. As civil society leaders, we write to mark seventy-five years since the European Convention on Human Rights, giving legal force to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and twenty-five years since our Human Rights Act brought these protections home into UK law. These anniversaries remind us that human rights are not abstract ideals. They are the framework that protects people’s dignity, limits the misuse of power, and helps to shape a fairer society. Across the UK, human rights have quietly and consistently made a difference in people’s lives: ensuring dignity in care, fairness in housing, protection in education, accountability in public services, and justice when things go wrong. Human rights protections need to be matched by strong political leadership and a clear commitment to put them into practice. The law provides the framework, but it is through the actions and choices of those in power that these protections become real in people’s lives. This year’s Human Rights Day falls at a time when many people feel deep uncertainty about the future. These are serious and worrying times. It would be easy to look inward, to narrow our vision, or to allow hard-won protections to slip away through neglect or division. But we choose a different path. We choose to look forward with determination and hope. The lesson of history is that human rights matter most when they are hardest to defend. In moments of uncertainty, they provide a shared foundation of fairness, dignity and accountability - the rules that keep our democracy decent and our society grounded in respect for each other’s humanity... Text continues and is available in full (http://www.cfois.scot/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/HRD-2025-Letter-Text-Signatory.pdf) and in easy read format (http://www.cfois.scot/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/HRD25-Easy-Read-Letter.pdf) Sanchita Hosali, CEO, British Institute of Human Rights Katherine Hill, Director, 4in10 London's Child Poverty Network Margaret Simpson MBE MSC FRSA, CEO, ABILITY BORDERS SCIO Kari Gerstheimer, CEO & Founder, Access Social Care Jeremy Crook OBE, Chief Executive, Action for Race Equality Liz Bayram, CEO, Advice UK Justine Forster, CEO, Advocacy Focus Maya Uddin, Chief Executive, Advocacy Highland Arlene Astley, Operations & Development Manager, AdvoCard Angela Ellis, Chief Executive, Advonet Aderonke Apata, Founder & CEO, African Rainbow Family Cllr Faith Gakanje-Ajala, Founder, African Women Empowerment Forum Maya Esslemont, Director, After Exploitation Katherine Crawford, Chief Executive, Age Scotland Joe Powell, CEO, All Wales People First Furrah Riaz, Programme Manager, Amina - The Muslim Women's Resource Centre Kerry Moscogiuri, Director of Campaigns & Communications, Amnesty International UK Vanessa Paynton, Executive Director, Art in Healthcare Helen Trew, CEO, Art27 Scotland Deborah Alsina, Chief Executive, Arthritis UK Piya Muqit, Executive Director, Asylum Aid Kat Lorenz, Director, Asylum Support Appeals Project Diana Skelton, National Coordinator, ATD Fourth World UK Zainab Homam, CEO, Awesta Charitable Organisation Danny Boyle, CEO, BEMIS Scotland Silkie Carlo, Director, Big Brother Watch Ben Higgins, CEO, Bild (British Institute of Learning Disabilities) Hazel Williams, CEO, Birthrights Kate Mercer, Founder, Black Belt Advocacy Romilly Greenhill, CEO, Bond Professor Sam Baron, Chief Executive, British Association of Social Workers Helen Wildbore, CEO, Care Rights UK Helen Walker, CEO, Carers UK Sam Smith, CEO, C-Change Claire Stern, Deputy CEO, Central England Law Centre Text continues and is available in full (http://www.cfois.scot/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/HRD-2025-Letter-Text-Signatory.pdf) and in easy read format (http://www.cfois.scot/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/HRD25-Easy-Read-Letter.pdf)
December 10, 2025 at 10:07 AM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
Today, on International Human Rights Defenders Day, CFoIS stands with other human rights defenders who fulfil duties and promote FoI rights in Scotland.

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #humanrightsdefendersday
CFoIS stands with other human rights defenders who fulfil duties and promote FoI rights in Scotland, the Scottish Information Commissioner and his team, as well as the FoI workers in the 10,000 public bodies designated under FoISA. CFoIS celebrates our work as a human rights defending organisation, through our campaign to secure an enforceable right to ask. CFoIS assisted Katy Clark MSP with the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill, which is currently at Stage 1 and represents an opportunity for Scotland to lead the way on FoI as it will facilitate better transparency and accountability within our public institutions.
December 9, 2025 at 7:06 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
The third organisation we are taking a look at as part of our celebration of International Human Rights Defenders Day is Care Home Relatives Scotland!

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #humanrightsdefendersday
Care Home Relatives Scotland The aim of Care Home Relatives Scotland was to bring together people who had loved ones living in nursing and residential homes during the pandemic. Since then, the group has worked on campaigns with the aim of achieving better transparency and accountability within the care sector. Care Home Relatives Scotland has worked closely with the Government and politicians, achieving significant improvements to care home visiting guidance put in place during the pandemic. They continue to campaign for Anne’s Law to be implemented and are core participants in the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry. The group support extending Freedom of Information laws to cover care homes and support services operated by the private and third sectors, so that those seeking to receive information on their own or a relative’s treatment have an enforceable right to request that information.
December 9, 2025 at 6:39 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
The second organisation we are taking a look at as part of our celebration of International Human Rights Defenders Day is @fragdenstaat.de!

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #humanrightsdefendersday
FragDenStaat FragDenStaat is a Freedom of Information portal which assists people to make requests and enforce their right to acces information. More than 130,000 people have filed over 250,000 requests using the portal, increasing access to information, transparency and accountability in public authorities. FragDenStaat uses information gained from requests made under the Freedom of Information Act to publish investigative research. Their recent publications expose a convicted neo-Nazi MEP who plundered EU funds, routine secrecy surrounding meetings about AI regulation, a tax haven in a Northern German forest, and much more. The organisation also files lawsuits to fight for better enforcement of Freedom of Information in Germany and assists others to file lawsuits about their own requests.
December 9, 2025 at 1:18 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
The first organisation we are taking a look at as part of our celebration of International Human Rights Defenders Day is @siecobywatelska.bsky.social!

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #humanrightsdefendersday
Sieć Obywatelska Watchdog Polska is dedicated to defending and strengthening the right of access to public information. For over 20 years, the organisation has supported citizens, journalists, community groups and activists who use freedom of information on a daily basis in order to make informed decisions and hold power to account. In 2024, Sieć Obywatelska Watchdog Polska won a case at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), which was a landmark ruling for freedom of expression. The group had inquired about the calendars of constitutional judges in Poland, as they wanted to know who they were meeting with. The Constitutional Tribunal refused their request, claiming that the calendars were not public information. The ECtHR ruled that access to public information is part of freedom of expression, especially for watchdogs acting in the public interest.
December 9, 2025 at 12:56 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
In honour of International Human Rights Defenders Day today, CFoIS takes a look at organisations and individuals who have fought for the right to ask.

Look out for our upcoming posts!

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #humanrightsdefendersday
Text: International Human Rights Defenders Day 2025 Spotlighting human rights defenders that have fought for an enforceable right to ask information. Photo shows three activists with signs which read 'take a stand', 'fight for your rights', and 'resist together'. In a series of posts, CFoIS takes the opportunity to spotlight organisations and individuals that have made a positive difference towards securing an enforceable right to ask information on International Human Rights Defenders Day 2025 (9th December).
December 9, 2025 at 12:23 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
Read the published responses to the SPPA Committee's consultation on the Bill here: yourviews.parliament.scot/sppa/freedom...
Published responses for Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill - Scottish Parliament - Citizen Space
Find and participate in consultations run by the Scottish Parliament
yourviews.parliament.scot
December 3, 2025 at 3:48 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee received 108 responses to its consultation on the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill!

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi
SPPA Committee receives 108 Stage 1 Consultation Responses to the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments (SPPA) Committee recently a call for views on the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill, receiving 108 responses, with about 60 of these coming from the public. This is an impressive response rate as it was a four week process. The submissions provide a rich source of information about daily FoI practice across Scotland and evidence why reform is needed on the problems addressed by the Bill. The SPICe summary of the submissions also evidence a significant majority in support of the Bill. Some of the responses have been published online and are available to read on the Scottish Parliament’s website.
December 3, 2025 at 3:46 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
Have a look inside the November instalment of our newsletter!

If you want to find out more, sign up to our newsletter via the ‘Support Us’ page on our website: cfois.scot/support-us/

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi
Inside the latest instalment of our newsletter Information on upcoming free events An update on the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Act UK COVID Inquiry Report Scottish Government commits to reforming the law to combat against SLAPPs FoI Request Roundup FoI in Europe FoI Globally and more...
November 29, 2025 at 4:56 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Scottish Government Ministers ordered to publish Nicola Sturgeon inquiry evidence - BBC News - 223 points in decision providing transparency on its complexity & explain ScotGovt’s poor handling of the case. ⁦‪@KatySClark‬⁩ ⁦‪@NUJScotland‬⁩ @unitescotland.bsky.social
Ministers ordered to publish Nicola Sturgeon inquiry evidence
The Scottish government has been ordered to publish some of the written evidence from an investigation into whether Nicola Sturgeon broke the ministerial code.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 7:43 PM
cfoiscot.bsky.social
Thanks to Reese Witherspoon's character in 'Legally Blonde', the concept of 'mens rea' was popularised. In this post, we explore how the concept relates to the FoI Reform Bill's proposed criminal offence of altering records!

#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #foi #criminallaw #LegallyBlonde
“I would like to point out that, not only is there no proof in this case, but there is a complete lack of 'mens rea' which, by definition, tells us that there can be no crime without a vicious will.” - Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods in ‘Legally Blonde’ ‘Mens rea’ is a concept in Criminal Law which refers to the ‘mental’ element of a crime. According to criminal law, criminal intention (mens rea) is required for a crime to have been committed. The broad areas of mens rea which are considered in a criminal case include intention, recklessness, negligence, strict liability and knowledge. Thanks to Elle, the legal concept which applies to the proposed criminal offence of altering records with intent to prevent disclosure contained in the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill, was mainstreamed!
November 28, 2025 at 3:20 PM