Home Office breaches FOI Act

Home Office breaches FOI Act

According to The Scotsman the Home Office has breached the Freedom of Information Act by failing to reply to applications lodged by the Press Association.

Four of eight requests submitted to the department have not been answered within the 20 working day deadline set out in the Act. The Press Association is now entitled to lodge a formal complaint with the UK Information Commissioner over the Home Office’s failures.

The Home Office also revealed today that it was carrying out a “public interest test” in relation to one FOI application made by the Press Association. Guidance issued by the UK Commissioner has stated that - in complex cases - the 20 working day limit can be extended where the public interest test has to be considered. There is no such extension under the Scottish FOI Act.

Home Office Misses Information Act Deadline (The Scotsman, 1 February 2005)