Freedom of Information Act 2000

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 was introduced by the British Government in the year 2000.

The Act creates a general right of access, on request, to information held by public authorities. That means any member of the public may demand that withheld information about them is released to them.^[1]

About 120,000 requests are made each year.^[2] Private citizens made 60% of them, with businesses and journalists accounting for 20% and 10% respectively.^[2] The Act cost £35.5 million in 2005.^[3]

Although there are some groups which are exceptions to the Act, it covers over 19,000 authorities.^[4]

1. ↑ 59 things that would have stayed secret. The Times, 05.03.2007. [1]
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Independent Review of the impact of the Freedom of Information Act: A REPORT PREPARED FOR THE DEPARTMENT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS" Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, Frontier Economics Ltd, October 2006. Retrieved on 2012-05-28.
3. ↑ "Every expense spared", The Economist, 19 December 2006, Number 8532, page 46. Retrieved on 2011-07-20.
4. ↑ "Freedom of Information official site for making and viewing requests".