Centre for Freedom of Information Annual Practitioners’ Conference

Dalhousie Building, Old Hawkhill, Dundee, DD1 5EN

With access to information rights in Scotland taking an increasingly central role in public discourse, there is a temptation to focus primarily on the legislation which guarantees these rights. The law which implements the right to information is clearly important – both for public authorities and the individuals using their information rights. However, it is also valuable to look beyond the law and consider the actual impact that guaranteeing the right to information can, and does, have on the general public.

It is this often overlooked aspect of information rights which drives this year’s Conference theme: Impact: Changing Lives Through Freedom of Information. With speakers ranging from the Scottish Information Commissioner, journalists and academics working with the Traveller community, the Conference seeks to spotlight the positive impacts of freedom of information and reflect on the successes and challenges in guaranteeing information rights in Scotland.

This year’s Conference will provide an excellent opportunity to explore the impacts of freedom of information, and we hope to see you here in Dundee.    

Slides Used in the Conference's Seminars

Seminar A: An Introduction to Freedom of Information
Seminar B: Bringing FOI to hard to reach groups

• Samantha Morgan 
• Paul Mutch

Seminar C: Progress on Reforming the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Seminar E: Understanding Environmental Information 
Seminar F - The Balancing Act: The Public Interest, what is it? 

• Fiona Killen
• Sarah Hughes-Jones