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About access to information

There are three main access to information regimes: Freedom of Information Act 2000, Data Protection Act 1998, and Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

The Information Commissioner’s Office website explains what the acts mean to you and differences between them.  You can also find details of our obligations under each Act.

You can view all the Acts online at the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) website.

If you wish to make a request to the FCO, please see our request information page.

Freedom of Information statistics

The Ministry of Justice publishes statistics on handling of requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act by over 40 central government bodies, including all departments of state.

You can find quarterly and annual statistics on the Ministry of Justice's website.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

The FCO sponsors a number of Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs).   If you would like to request information held by the NDPBs, you should contact them directly.

Decision Notices

Information Commissioner

The Information Commissioner's Office is the UK's independent authority set up to promote access to official information and to protect personal information. You can find decision notices by the Information Commissioner following their investigation into authorities' handling of FOI requests on the decision notices page on the ICO website.

First-Tier Tribunal (Information Rights)

Formerly known as the Information Tribunal, the Tribunal hears appeals from notices issued by the Information Commissioner under:

  • Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)
  • Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA)
  • The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulation 2003 (PECR)
  • The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR)

You can find notices of decisions made by the Information Tribunal following their investigation into authorities handling of FOI requests on the decisions page on the Information Tribunal website.

About us

The Information Rights Team (IRT) is the central department that monitors all requests made under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act, and Environmental Information Regulations in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.  We work closely with the Ministry of Justice and other Whitehall partners to ensure that the FCO implements the Acts in accordance with the spirit and the provisions of the law.  We also promote good practice across our global network of departments in the UK and embassies overseas.

The appropriate FCO department in the UK leads on requests for information, liasing with offices overseas and other government departments when necessary.  Each FCO department in the UK and British embassy overseas has an Open Government Liason Officer (OGLO) to provide local advice.

The Information Rights Team's role is to:

  • encourage FCO departments in the UK and embassies overseas to proactively publish information;

  • make sure that all requests received under the three access to information regimes are logged and tracked so that statutory deadlines are met and that the correct handling procedures are followed;

  • maintain a network of Open Government Liaison Officers (OGLOs) in each department and embassy to ensure local compliance
  • provide advice and assistance to departments and embassies as necessary on FOI and DPA policy matters and case handling, using a dedicated telephone help-line, advice by email, classroom training, workshops, e-learning and awareness raising presentations;

  • provide detailed and regularly updated online guidance materials for all FCO staff on the handling of FOI requests
  • liase with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Central Clearing House and Cabinet Office on complex, cross-cutting and high profile requests;

  • Provide FOI statistics to the MOJ Clearing House as required;

  • respond to all complaints to the Information Commissioners Office and appeals to the First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights), in consultation with other departments as necessary;

  • co-ordinate FCO responses to FOI-related requests from other government departments;

  • represent the FCO at all pan-Whitehall FOI practitioner/manager discussions;

  • provide the FCO Board with an annual report on FOI compliance performance and informal quarterly updates on noteworthy cases and changing trends;

  • promote FOI understanding at all levels in the FCO, reinforcing messages in all available media.