Watchdog tells SNP to act on 'long overdue' rewrite of freedom of information laws

The Scottish Information Commissioner has urged immediate reform of Freedom of Information laws to reflect modern service delivery, criticizing the government’s delay in extending coverage to social care providers. This move highlights a critical gap in transparency, as the vast majority of the public believes publicly funded health and social care services should be subject to disclosure requirements. The extension is viewed as long overdue, given that current legislation has not kept pace with how these vital services are now delivered. Beyond expanding coverage, the article emphasizes the need to update statutory duties to suit the digital age and introduce safeguards against the deliberate destruction of information to evade disclosure. With high public support for transparency and minimal opposition regarding the cost of these laws, there is a strong mandate for refreshing the Act. These updates are essential to ensure the rights remain fit for purpose, protecting the public interest and maintaining trust in how public bodies handle sensitive data. This call for action is relevant to open_data advocates because it underscores the urgency of applying open data principles to outsourced and private entities delivering public services. When public money funds private care, transparency cannot be compromised, making robust open data frameworks essential for accountability. The legislative push to include these bodies ensures that all transactions involving public funds are accessible, reinforcing the link between data availability and democratic oversight in an evolving service landscape.

Source: thenational.scot
Published on 2024-12-30

Open Data

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