Extension of FOI laws in Scotland explored

A consultation will be held into extending freedom of information (FOI) laws to cover companies providing public services.

Parliamentary business minister Joe Fitzpatrick announced the move in the wake of a highly critical report on the Scottish Government’s handling of FOI requests.

The Liberal Democrats wereamongthosepressing for the laws to be expanded to cover private firms delivering public contracts in a debate at Holyrood.

Party leader Willie Rennie said: “Because of the expansion of outsourcing by government, the exposure, the coverage, of freedom of information legislation has reduced.

“We spend about £11 billion on public procurement in the public sector. There are still a lot of private companies that are not subject to the scrutiny that I think they should be subject to.”

Labour used the debate to say the report by the Scottish Information Commissioner should be a “wakeup call” for the government.

The report found the government’s practice of treating FOI requests from journalists, MSPS and political researchers differently to members of the public was “inconsistent” with the law and should end.