Scotland’s FOI Act law has received a rating of 103 out of a possible 150 points by the International Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD). This rating places Scotland in the upper rankings when compared to international laws.
Since 2011 the CLD has maintained a rating system of FOI laws (which it refers to as RTI – Right to Information - laws) around the world.
The rating system has typically focussed on national laws, meaning that Scotland’s FOI law has, until now, not received an independent rating, due to it being classified by the CLD as ‘subnational’.
The CLD recently agreed to review Scotland’s FOI law and published its results alongside a small number of other subnational and international bodies which have been assessed.
To compare to other nations, only 35 countries out of a total of 140 assessed achieved a rating higher than 103. The Westminster FOI Act, which covers public bodies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, along with non-devolved public bodies in Scotland, currently has a rating of 92 points.
Scottish Information Commissioner David Hamilton said, “This is a real feather in the cap for Scotland’s lawmakers. This international ranking recognises the strengths of Scotland’s FOI law, and the robust rights that people have when using it.
“While this score places Scotland in the upper rankings, it also spotlights where the current law can be improved. The proposed measures to reform FOI which are currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament, will help raise our international standing even further, and lift Scotland closer to the top of the table”.
More information on the proposed Reform FOI Bill can be found on our website.
The announcement of Scotland’s RTI Rating score coincides with UNESCO’s International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), which recognises and celebrates the importance of access to information around the world. More information on IDUAI is available on their website.
For more information on the RTI ratings, along with a list of every featured country’s score, visit: RTI Rating Index here . Scotland’s rating is shown in the International and Subnational subsection.
