Scottish Liberal Democrats set out proposals for future of FOI

Speaking as the Scottish Government’s consultation on the future of freedom of information legislation closes, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie has today set out a series of steps to strengthen the public’s rights and help fix our broken politics.

The party is now calling for:

• Freedom of information laws to be expanded to cover companies which provide government services, after firms receiving up to £700m of taxpayers’ money a year to run services have been exempt

• The introduction of a new “duty to record” so that the public can always access information about important ministerial meetings and decision-making processes

• An end to the Scottish Government placing adverse publicity clauses in public sector contracts, which prevent contactors from saying anything a minister deems detrimental to the public perception of the Scottish Government    

• The Scottish Government to commit to international best practice by signing up to the Council of Europe’s Tromso Convention which provides a general right of access to official documents held by public authorities.

Willie Rennie said:

“Freedom of information laws have played a mighty role in holding government and public authorities to account and uncovered hosts of scandals. However as these laws have bedded in it has become apparent that loopholes remain which allow ministers to dodge scrutiny, while private companies who deliver public services worth hundreds of millions have been exempt entirely.

“Twenty years on from when Scottish Liberal Democrats first introduced freedom of information legislation, the time has now come for us to consolidate and develop those successes. Our laws must evolve to keep up with new challenges.

“The proposals I am setting out today would help to return transparency, integrity and fair practice back into the beating heart of a better politics.”