Developments in FOIDevelopments in FOI

Zoë WoodsZoë WoodsHead of FOI UnitHead of FOI UnitScottish GovernmentScottish Government

Who am I?Who am I?

FOI Unit – some backgroundFOI Unit – some background

Organisational contextOrganisational context 2 teams with very different 2 teams with very different

functionsfunctions FOIU and the SGFOIU and the SG

Some reflections…Some reflections…

We are:We are: AuthoritativeAuthoritative ExpertExpert TrustedTrusted AvailableAvailable

We are also:We are also: Generally dislikedGenerally disliked Process driven and legislatively boundProcess driven and legislatively bound Inaccessible and slow to engageInaccessible and slow to engage Organisationally isolatedOrganisationally isolated

What needs to change?What needs to change?

We doWe do Our systems and processesOur systems and processes Our communicationsOur communications The legislation?The legislation?

Concrete developments in FOIConcrete developments in FOI

Release of historical dataRelease of historical data Consultation on extension of Consultation on extension of

coveragecoverage Codes of practiceCodes of practice Overhaul of guidanceOverhaul of guidance Amending FOISA?Amending FOISA?

Other relevant developmentsOther relevant developments

Public Service Reform Act 2010Public Service Reform Act 2010 Public Records BillPublic Records Bill UK Transparency AgendaUK Transparency Agenda Spending ReviewSpending Review Scottish Parliamentary electionsScottish Parliamentary elections

The Future…The Future…

Can’t foresee a future without Can’t foresee a future without FOIFOI

Financial context likely to Financial context likely to increase scrutiny of spending increase scrutiny of spending and decision makingand decision making

How we view and tackle the How we view and tackle the challenges will be critical to our challenges will be critical to our successsuccess

Questions or reflections?Questions or reflections?

Zoe.Woods@scotland.gsi.gov.ukZoe.Woods@scotland.gsi.gov.uk foi@scotland.gsi.gov.ukfoi@scotland.gsi.gov.uk www.scotland.gov.uk/foiwww.scotland.gov.uk/foi