What is Freedom of Information (FOI)?

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 received Royal approval on 30 November 2000, although it did not come fully into force until 5 January 2005. The FOI Act provides that every person has the following new legal rights:

the right of access to all types of information, whether personal or non-personal, held by Roads Service. This may include information about third parties, although staff will have to take account of the Data Protection Act before releasing any personal information.

the right to be told whether the information requested actually exists

the right to receive the information.

Every public authority, including Roads Service, is required to adopt and maintain a publication scheme setting out how it intends to publish the different classes of information it holds, and whether there is a charge for the information.