View source for Access to information laws

==Main laws for accessing information==
The following sections are the various laws that apply to FOI requests.  Each section contains more details on process and exemption guidance:

# within [[time_for_compliance|20 working days]] the authority will normally either send you the information you asked for or will refuse to send it, claiming one or more [[exemptions|exemptions]] that are allowed to them under the laws.
# for refusals, you can [[internal_reviews|ask]] to the authority to reconsider the way your request was handled.
# if that doesn't work you also have the [[right to appeal]] to a tribunal/court.

==the Law==

Main article: [[access to information laws]]

The following rules apply to information requests in the UK.  Follow the links for more details on process and exemption guidance:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! England and Wales
! Scotland
! Northern Ireland
|-
| [[Freedom of Information Act 2000]]
| [[Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002]]
| [[Freedom of Information Act 2000]]
|-
| [[Environmental Information Regulations 2004]]
| [[Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004]]
| [[Environmental Information Regulations 2004]]
|-
|[[Data Protection Act 1998]]
|[[Data Protection Act 1998]]
|[[Data Protection Act 1998]]
|-
| [[INSPIRE Regulations 2009]]
| [[The INSPIRE (Scotland) Regulations 2009]]
| [[INSPIRE Regulations 2009]]
|-
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|[[North/South Bodies Freedom of Information Code of Practice]]
|}

==Other laws giving rights to information==
These lists are not exhaustive.

===Local Authorities===

*[[Community Health Councils (Access to Information) Act 1988]]
*[[Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960]]
*[[Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985]]
*[[The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2000]] (No. 3272)
*[[The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2002]] (No. 716)


===Coroners' Records===

*Coroners' rules [http://www.umds.ac.uk/depsta/law/research/coroners/1984rules.html]
===Court Records===
Rule 5.4 of the Civil Procedure Rules covers with access to court documents in civil proceedings in the county courts, the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Under that rule (on payment of the set fee) can inspect and take a copy of:
(a) a claim form which has been served, 
(b) a judgment or order given or made in public, and 
c) any other document (with the court's gives permission)

===Medical Records===

*[[Access to Health Records Act 1990]] Access to the health records of deceased people 
*[[Medical Records 1988]]
* More information & FAQs on access to Medical Information using these acts is available on the Dept of Health's website[http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Informationpolicy/Patientconfidentialityandcaldicottguardians/DH_4084411]

===Other===

*[[Adoption Act 1976]]
*[[Coal Industry Act 1994]] s57
*[[Radioactive Substances Act 1993]] s39

===The Seven Principles of Public Life===
The seven principles include three that are relevant to accessing public sector information: accountability, openness and transparency

==Appeals==

*[http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?LegType=All+Legislation&PageNumber=1&NavFrom=3&parentActiveTextDocId=3603730&ActiveTextDocId=3603746 The Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (General Regulatory Chamber) Rules 2009 (No. 1976 (L. 20))]

*[[Appealing First–tier Tribunal (Information Rights)]]

[[category:Access to information laws]]