http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/contentsFreedom of Information Act 2000An Act to make provision for the disclosure of information held by public authorities or by persons providing services for them and to amend the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Public Records Act 1958; and for connected purposes.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-04-09Expert Participation2026-04-07 Freedom of Information Act 2000Sch. 3 para. 1(1)Courts Act 2003Sch. 4 para. 13s. 110(1)Freedom of Information Act 2000Sch. 1 para. 43A(a)Health and Care Act 2022Sch. 3 para. 47s. 186(6)Freedom of Information Act 2000Sch. 1 Pt. 6Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025Sch. 2 para. 23s. 105s. 109(1)Freedom of Information Act 2000Sch. 1 Pt. 6Trade Act 2021Sch. 6 para. 5s. 18(2)-(4) Freedom of Information Act 2000Part I Access to information held by public authorities Right to information1 General right of access to information held by public authorities.2 Effect of the exemptions in Part II.3 Public authorities.4 Amendment of Schedule 1.5 Further power to designate public authorities.6 Publicly-owned companies.7 Public authorities to which Act has limited application.8 Request for information.9 Fees.10 Time for compliance with request.11 Means by which communication to be made.11ARelease of datasets for re-use11BPower to charge fees in relation to release of datasets for re-use12Exemption where cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit.13Fees for disclosure where cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit.14 Vexatious or repeated requests.15 Special provisions relating to public records transferred to Public Record Office, etc.16 Duty to provide advice and assistance. Refusal of request17 Refusal of request. The Information Commissioner . . . 18The Information Commissioner . . . Publication schemes19 Publication schemes.20 Model publication schemes.Part II Exempt information21 Information accessible to applicant by other means.22 Information intended for future publication.22AResearch23Information supplied by, or relating to, bodies dealing with security matters.24 National security.25 Certificates under ss. 23 and 24: supplementary provisions.26 Defence.27 International relations.28 Relations within the United Kingdom.29 The economy.30 Investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities.31 Law enforcement.32 Court records, etc.33 Audit functions.34 Parliamentary privilege.35 Formulation of government policy, etc.36 Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs.37 Communications with Her Majesty, etc. and honours.38 Health and safety.39 Environmental information.40Personal information.41 Information provided in confidence.42 Legal professional privilege.43 Commercial interests.44Prohibitions on disclosure.Part III General functions of Minister for the Cabinet Office, Secretary of State and Information Commissioner45 Issue of code of practice by the Minister for the Cabinet Office.46 Issue of code of practice by Secretary of State.47 General functions of Commissioner.48 Recommendations as to good practice.49 Reports to be laid before Parliament.Part IVEnforcement50Application for decision by Commissioner.51Information notices.52Enforcement notices.53Exception from duty to comply with decision notice or enforcement notice.54Failure to comply with notice.55Powers of entry and inspection.56No action against public authority.Part VAppeals57Appeal against notices served under Part IV.58Determination of appeals.59Appeals from decision of Tribunal.60Appeals against national security certificate.61Appeal proceedingsPart VI Historical records and records in Public Record Office or Public Record Office of Northern Ireland62 Interpretation of Part VI.63 Removal of exemptions: historical records generally.64 Removal of exemptions: historical records in public record offices.65 Decisions as to refusal of discretionary disclosure of historical records.66 Decisions relating to certain transferred public records.67 Amendments of public records legislation.Part VII Amendments of Data Protection Act 1998 Amendments relating to personal information held by public authorities68 Extension of meaning of “data”.69 Right of access to unstructured personal data held by public authorities.70 Exemptions applicable to certain manual data held by public authorities.71 Particulars registrable under Part III of Data Protection Act 1998.72 Availability under Act disregarded for purpose of exemption. Other amendments73 Further amendments of Data Protection Act 1998.Part VIII Miscellaneous and supplemental74 Power to make provision relating to environmental information.75 Power to amend or repeal enactments prohibiting disclosure of information.76 Disclosure of information between Commissioner and ombudsmen.76ADisclosure between Commissioner and Scottish Information Commissioner76BDisclosure of information to Tribunal77 Offence of altering etc. records with intent to prevent disclosure.78 Saving for existing powers.79 Defamation.80 Scotland.80AInformation held by Northern Ireland bodies81 Application to government departments, etc.82 Orders and regulations.83 Meaning of “Welsh public authority”.84 Interpretation.85 Expenses.86 Repeals.87 Commencement.88 Short title and extent.Freedom of Information Act 2000SCHEDULE 1 Public authoritiesPart I General1Any government department other than (a) the Competition and Markets...1ZAThe Competition and Markets Authority, in respect of information held...1AThe Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills,...2The House of Commons , in respect of information other...3The House of Lords , in respect of information other...4The Northern Ireland Assembly. 5The National Assembly for Wales, in respect of information other...5Athe Welsh Assembly Government. 6The armed forces of the Crown, except— Part IILocal governmentEngland and Wales7A local authority within the meaning of the Local Government...8The Greater London Authority. 9The Common Council of the City of London, in respect...10The Sub-Treasurer of the Inner Temple or the Under-Treasurer of...11The Council of the Isles of Scilly. 12A parish meeting constituted under section 13 of the Local...13Any charter trustees constituted under section 246 of the Local...14A fire and rescue authority constituted by a scheme under...14AA fire and rescue authority created by an order under...15A waste disposal authority established by virtue of an order...15A Local government16A port health authority constituted by an order under section...17 Local government18An internal drainage board which is continued in being by...19A joint authority established under Part IV of the Local...19AAn economic prosperity board established under section 88 of the...19BA combined authority established under section 103 of that Act....19CA combined county authority established under section 9(1) of the...20The London Fire Commissioner. 21A joint fire authority established by virtue of an order...22A body corporate established pursuant to an order under section...23A body corporate established pursuant to an order under section...24The Broads Authority established by section 1 of the Norfolk...25A joint committee constituted in accordance with section 102(1)(b) of...26A joint board which is continued in being by virtue...27A joint authority established under section 21 of the Local...28A Passenger Transport Executive for an integrated transport area for...28AA sub-national transport body established under section 102E of the...29Transport for London. 30The London Transport Users Committee. 31A joint board the constituent members of which consist of...32A National Park authority established by an order under section...33A joint planning board constituted for an area in Wales...33AA strategic planning panel established under section 60D of the...34 Local government35 Local government35A Local government35BAn inshore fisheries and conservation authority for a district established...35CAn urban development corporation established under section 135 of the...35DA Mayoral development corporation established under section 198 of the...35EA Local Healthwatch organisation, in respect of information held in...35FA corporate joint committee established by regulations under Part 5...Northern Ireland36A district council within the meaning of the Local Government...Part IIIThe National Health ServiceEngland and Wales36A The National Health Service37 The National Health Service37ANHS England . 37BAn integrated care board established under section 14Z25 of the...38A special health authority established under section 28 of the...39 The National Health Service39AA Local Health Board established under section 11 of the...40A National Health Service trust established under section 25 of...40AAn NHS foundation trust. 41A Community Health Council established under section 182 of the...41A The National Health Service42 The National Health Service43 The National Health Service43AAny person providing primary medical services , primary dental services...44Any person providing general medical services, general dental services, general...45Any person providing personal medical services or personal dental services...45AAny person providing local pharmaceutical services under— 45B The National Health ServiceNorthern Ireland46A Health and Social Services Board established under Article 16...47A Health and Social Services Council established under Article 4...48A Health and Social Care trust established under Article 10...49A special agency established under Article 3 of the Health...50The Northern Ireland Central Services Agency for the Health and...51Any person providing primary medical services, general dental services, general...51AThe Regional Business Services Organisation established under section 14 of...51BThe Patient and Client Council established under section 16 of...51CThe Regional Health and Social Care Board established under section...51DThe Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being established...Part IVMaintained schools and other educational institutionsEngland and Wales52The governing body of— (a) a maintained school, as defined...52A(1) The proprietor of an Academy, in respect of information...53(1) The governing body of— (a) an institution within the...Northern Ireland54(1) The managers of— (a) a controlled school, voluntary school...55(1) The governing body of— (a) a university receiving financial...56Any person providing further education to whom grants, loans or...Part V Police England and Wales57A police and crime commissioner. 58The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime. 59A chief officer of police of a police force in... Northern Ireland60The Northern Ireland Policing Board. 61The Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.... Miscellaneous62The British Transport Police. 63The Ministry of Defence Police established by section 1 of...63AThe Civil Nuclear Police Authority. 63BThe chief constable of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary. 64Any person who— (a) by virtue of any enactment has...Part VIOther public bodies and offices: generalThe Adjudication Panel for Wales. ... The adjudicators appointed under...Part VIIOther public bodies and offices: Northern IrelandAn advisory committee established under paragraph 25 of the Health...SCHEDULE 2 The Commissioner and the TribunalPart I Provision consequential on s. 18(1) and (2) General1(1) Any reference in any enactment, instrument or document to...1AThe Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills,...2(1) Any reference in this Act or in any instrument... Public Records Act 1958 (c. 51)3(1) In Part II of the Table in paragraph 3... Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (c. 13)4In Schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (departments...5In Schedule 4 to that Act (tribunals exercising administrative functions),... Superannuation Act 1972 (c. 11)6In Schedule 1 to the Superannuation Act 1972 (employment with... Consumer Credit Act 1974 (c. 39)7In section 159 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (correction... House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24)8(1) In Part II of Schedule 1 to the House... Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25)9(1) In Part II of Schedule 1 to the Northern... Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992 (c. 53)10In paragraph 14 of Part I of Schedule 1 to... Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993 (c. 8)11In Schedule 5 to the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act...12In Schedule 7 to that Act (retirement dates: transitional provisions),... Data Protection Act 1998 (c. 29)13(1) Section 6 of the Data Protection Act 1998 (the...14In section 70(1) of that Act (supplementary definitions)— 15(1) Schedule 5 to that Act (the Data Protection Commissioner...Part II Amendments relating to extension of functions of Commissioner and Tribunal Interests represented by lay members of Tribunal16In section 6(6) of the Data Protection Act 1998 (lay... Expenses incurred under this Act excluded in calculating fees17In section 26(2) of that Act (fees regulations), in paragraph... Information provided to Commissioner or Tribunal18In section 58 of that Act (disclosure of information to...19(1) Section 59 of that Act (confidentiality of information) is... Deputy commissioners20(1) Paragraph 4 of Schedule 5 to that Act (officers... Exercise of Commissioner’s functions by others21(1) Paragraph 5 of Schedule 5 to that Act (exercise... Money22In paragraph 9(1) of Schedule 5 to that Act (money)...SCHEDULE 3 Powers of entry and inspection Issue of warrants1(1) If a circuit judge or a District Judge (Magistrates'...2(1) A judge shall not issue a warrant under this...3A judge who issues a warrant under this Schedule shall... Execution of warrants4A person executing a warrant issued under this Schedule may...5A warrant issued under this Schedule shall be executed at...6(1) If the premises in respect of which a warrant...7(1) A person seizing anything in pursuance of a warrant... Matters exempt from inspection and seizure8The powers of inspection and seizure conferred by a warrant...9(1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, the powers...10If the person in occupation of any premises in respect... Return of warrants11A warrant issued under this Schedule shall be returned to... Offences12Any person who— (a) intentionally obstructs a person in the... Vessels, vehicles etc.13In this Schedule “premises” includes any vessel, vehicle, aircraft or... Scotland and Northern Ireland14In the application of this Schedule to Scotland— 15In the application of this Schedule to Northern Ireland— SCHEDULE 4 Constitution of Tribunal in national security cases1In paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 6 to the Data Protection...2For paragraph 3 of that Schedule there is substituted— Constitution of Tribunal in other cases3(1) Paragraph 4 of that Schedule (constitution of Tribunal in... Rules of procedure4(1) Paragraph 7 of that Schedule (rules of procedure) is...SCHEDULE 5 Amendments of public records legislationPart I Amendments of Public Records Act 1958 Functions of Advisory Council on Public Records1In section 1 of the Public Records Act 1958 (general... Access to public records2(1) Section 5 of that Act (access to public records)...3Schedule 2 of that Act (enactments prohibiting disclosure of information... Power to extend meaning of “public records”4In Schedule 1 to that Act (definition of public records)...Part II Amendment of Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 19235After section 5 of the Public Records Act (Northern Ireland)...SCHEDULE 6 Further amendments of Data Protection Act 1998 Request by data controller for further information1In section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998 (right... Parliament2After section 35 of that Act there is inserted— Parliamentary...3After section 63 of that Act there is inserted— Application...4In Schedule 2 to that Act (conditions relevant for the...5In Schedule 3 to that Act (conditions relevant for the... Honours6In Schedule 7 to that Act (miscellaneous exemptions) in paragraph... Legal professional privilege7In paragraph 10 of that Schedule (legal professional privilege), for... Extension of transitional exemption8In Schedule 14 to that Act (transitional provisions), in paragraph...SCHEDULE 7 Disclosure of information by ombudsmen The Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration1At the end of section 11 of the Parliamentary Commissioner...2After section 11A of that Act there is inserted— Disclosure... The Commissions for Local Administration in England and Wales3In section 32 of the Local Government Act 1974 (law...4After section 33 of that Act there is inserted— Disclosure... The Health Service Commissioners5At the end of section 15 of the Health Service...6After section 18 of that Act there is inserted— Disclosure... The Welsh Administration Ombudsman7In Schedule 9 to the Government of Wales Act 1998...8After paragraph 27 of that Schedule there is inserted— Disclosure... The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints9At the end of Article 21 of the Commissioner for...10After that Article there is inserted— Disclosure of information to... The Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland11At the end of Article 19 of the Ombudsman (Northern...12After that Article there is inserted— Disclosure of information to... The Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland13In section 30 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975...SCHEDULE 8 RepealsPart I Repeal coming into force on passing of ActPart II Repeals coming into force in accordance with section 87(2)Part III Repeals coming into force in accordance with section 87(3)2000 c. 36An Act to make provision for the disclosure of information held by public authorities or by persons providing services for them and to amend the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Public Records Act 1958; and for connected purposes.[30th November 2000]Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—Act: functions of Secretary of State transferred to the Lord Chancellor (26.11.2001) by S.I. 2001/3500, arts. 3, 4, Sch. 1 para. 12Act (except ss. 15, 23, 24, 36, 46, 65, 66 and s. 53 for certain purposes): functions of the Lord Chancellor transferred to the Secretary of State, and all property, rights and liabilities to which the Lord Chancellor is entitled or subject in connection with any such function transferred to the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (19.8.2003) by The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1887), art. 4, Sch. 1 (with art. 6)Act applied (with modifications) (22.11.2012) by The Police and Crime Panels (Application of Local Authority Enactments) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2734), regs. 1(1), 3-6, Sch. Pt. 3Act modified (E.W.) (14.2.2020) by The Northamptonshire (Structural Changes) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/156), arts. 1, 17(2)(f)Act applied (with modifications) (22.11.2012) by The Police and Crime Panels (Application of Local Authority Enactments) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2734), regs. 1(1), 3-6, Sch. Pt. 2Act applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (22.11.2012) by The Police and Crime Panels (Application of Local Authority Enactments) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2734), regs. 1(1), 3-6, Sch. Pt. 1Act: transfer of functions (9.11.2016) by The Transfer of Functions (Elections, Referendums, Third Sector and Information) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/997), art. 7(a) (with arts. 8, 12)Act modified (E.W.) (23.5.2019) by The Buckinghamshire (Structural Changes) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/957), arts. 1, 15(2)Act applied (E.) (18.3.2022) by The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/331), arts. 1(1), 18(2)(f)Act: transfer of functions (9.11.2016) by The Transfer of Functions (Elections, Referendums, Third Sector and Information) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/997), arts. 1(2), 3(1), Sch. 1(i) (with arts. 3(2), 6, 12)Act modified (10.3.2026) by The Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/264), arts. 1(1), 28(2)(f), 40(2)(f)