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Holyrood opinion poll

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Union: Government should extend FoI coverage Print E-mail
Thursday, 25 October 2007

UNISON, Scotland's public service union, today welcomed the call by the Scottish Information Commissioner for bodies such as housing associations, leisure trusts, and PFI/PPP contractors to be covered by the Freedom of Information act. 

The union said that this could be exercised by the Scottish Government simply by using the current legislation.

Chris Bartter, UNISON's Scottish communications officer, said: "We and many other groups argued that the orgiginal legislation should cover all bodies providing public services - whether these are public, voluntary or private. We are pleased that the Commissioner has backed an extension of the coverage.

"We have asked housing associations for business plans, for example when they are contemplating transfer of housing to other associations, but we cannot currently use the Freedom of Information Act. If these were councils in the same position, this legislation would be open to us and to tenants."

UNISON points out that the current legislation provides the power for Scottish Ministers to designate such bodies as 'public' for the purpose of the Act.

"Section 5 of the Act has already been reviewed by the previous executive - there is no barrier to its use. We call on the Minister to compile a list of the housing associations, trusts, private contractors, and other voluntary and private sector organisations - private nurseries, residential care and nursing homes for example - that are curently spending our money without having to provide information to us," Bartter added.
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