Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011

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The Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 is Jersey's primary Freedom of Information legislation.

It is available on the Jersey Legal Information Board Web site.

The general structure of the Law follows that of the UK's Freedom of Information Act 2000, providing for a general right to request and receive information from a defined set of "scheduled public authorities", a time limit for replying to requests, and a defined set of exemptions to the right to information. Many of the details (for instance, the charging regime, if any) remain to be defined by regulations.

The Law came into force on 1st January 2015 by virtue of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 (Appointed Day) Act 2014[1]

Time for compliance

While the FOIJL allows the usual 20 working days for compliance, this is overridden by the Freedom of Information (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Jersey) Regulations 2014[2], which allow "such period as is reasonable in all the circumstances of the case, not exceeding 65 working days".

Schedule 1

Schedule 1 to the Law lists the scheduled public authorities for the purposes of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law. Strictly, these are only covered by the Law if they are also public authorities as defined in Section 1. Schedule 1 contains:

  • 1 The States Assembly including the States Greffe.
  • 2 A Minister.
  • 3 A committee or other body established by resolution of the States or by or in accordance with standing orders of the States Assembly.
  • 4 An administration of the States (removed by Freedom of Information (Schedule 1 to Law) (Amendment) (Jersey) Regulations 2014)
  • 4 A department established on behalf of the States (added by Freedom of Information (Schedule 1 to Law) (Amendment) (Jersey) Regulations 2014)
  • 5 The Judicial Greffe[3].
  • 6 The Viscount’s department[4].
  • 6A Andium Homes Limited, registered on 13th May 2014 under registration number 115713.
  • 7 The States of Jersey Police Force (added by Freedom of Information (Schedule 1 to Law) (Amendment) (Jersey) Regulations 2014)