Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill - Financial Memorandum
Overview
The Freedom of Information system allows people to access information held by public authorities. This Bill will reform the Freedom of Information system. Changes introduced by the Bill include:
- requiring Scottish Ministers to consider proposals made by the Scottish Information Commissioner when deciding whether to make an order to make a public body subject to the system;
- creating a process for the Scottish Parliament to add a body to the system;
- removing the First Minister’s power to override certain decisions of the Scottish Information Commissioner in relation to a request for information;
- requiring public authorities to proactively publish certain information, and to follow a new code of practice;
- requiring all public authorities that are subject to the system to appoint a Freedom of Information Officer;
- creating a new offence of destroying information so that it cannot be disclosed, even if no request for that information has been made.
Financial Memorandum
As with all Bills, the Finance and Public Administration Committee invites written evidence on the estimated financial implications of the Bill as set out in its accompanying Financial Memorandum (FM).
Read the FM for this Bill: Financial Memorandum.
Your Views
The Committee's call for views closed on Thursday 6 November 2025.
The Committee received 5 submissions to its call for views. Read the submissions on Citizen Space.
The Committee agreed to forward the submissions to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee as part of that Committee's consideration of the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill and take no further action.