FOIwiki:Current events

Well, more future and past events than current events really. Events that are likely to require updates to FOIwiki and WhatDoTheyKnow and other FOI related news. We tend to leave around 12 months of events on this page.

Ongoing

Government Spending Review - abolition of quangos

• A number of non-departmental government bodies / quangos have been named as being up for abolition, merger or absorption into parent departments, as part of the Coalition Government's Spending Review, due this autumn

• Main article: Bonfire of the quangos

NHS community services divestment

Main article: NHS community services divestment

Primary care trusts are being required by DH to divest themselves of their in-house community services. In most cases, this is either to existing or newly formed National Health Service trusts or NHS foundation trusts. In "over 60" cases, though, services look like being provided by a "Social Enterprise", which appears to mean a Community Interest Company. The current proposal is to make them subject to the FOI Act.

• DH press release

Health and Social Care Bill

• Enabling legislation: Health and Social Care Bill 2010-2011
• List of GP Pathfinder Consortia (Wave 1 & Wave 2): http://healthandcare.dh.gov.uk/context/consortia/

1st February 2013

• Abolition of Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust (a National Health Service trust) by SI 2013/4 (taken over by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust[1])

28th February 2013

• Dissolution of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (an urban development corporation) by SI 2013/110.

22nd March 2013

• Dissolution and removal from FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI:
  • British Shipbuilders (removed by SI 2013/687)

28th March 2013

• Addition to FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI:
  • The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, in respect of information relating to the function exercisable by virtue of article 2 of the Public Bodies (The Office of Fair Trading Transfer of Consumer Advice Scheme Function and Modification of Enforcement Functions) Order 2013 S.I. 2013/783 (added by SI 2013/783)
• ... and to FOISA Schedule 1:
  • 79A The Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, but only in respect of information relating to the function exercisable by virtue of article 2 of the Public Bodies (The Office of Fair Trading Transfer of Consumer Advice Scheme Function and Modification of Enforcement Functions) Order 2013 S.I. 2013/783 (added by SI 2013/783)

31st March 2013

• Abolition of Keyingham Level Drainage Board, Ottringham Drainage Board, Preston Drainage Board, Skeffling Drainage Board, Thorngumbald Drainage Board, and Winestead Level Drainage Board, and creation of South Holderness Internal Drainage Board by SI 2013/819.

1st April 2013

• Abolition and amendment to FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI:
  • The Commission for Rural Communities (added by Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006; removed by SI 2012/2654)
  • The Countryside Council for Wales (removed by SI 2013/775)
  • The Natural Resources Body for Wales (added by SI 2013/775)
  • The Railway Heritage Committee (added by SI 2010/937; removed by SI 2013/64)
• Changes to policing in Scotland. Creation of Police Scotland and The Scottish Police Authority; abolition of current Scottish Police forces. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2012/8/contents/enacted http://www.strathclyde.police.uk/join_us/police-scotland/police_service_of_scotland_faqs/

Also Scottish Police Services Authority is expected to become part of the Scottish Police Authority - perhaps at the same time. Note Police Scotland and The Scottish Police Authority have been added to WDTK early as they appear to exist already as of March 2013 and be ramping up to their operational role commencing. At the time of writing Police Scotland needs a contact email address.

• Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 amends FOISA Schedule 1:
  • 6 Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary (removed by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and SSI 2013/51)
  • 6 Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary (not on the main list) (added by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and SSI 2013/51)
  • 9 Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire and Rescue Authorities (amended by Fire (Scotland) Act 2005; removed by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and SSI 2013/51)
  • 9 Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (not on the main list) (added by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and SSI 2013/51)
  • 50 A chief constable of a police force in Scotland (removed by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and SSI 2013/51)
  • 50 A chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland (added by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and SSI 2013/51)
  • 50A The Scottish Police Authority (added by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and SSI 2013/51)
  • 51 A joint police board constituted by an amalgamation scheme made or approved under the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 (c.77) (removed by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and SSI 2013/51)
  • 52 The Police Advisory Board for Scotland (removed by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and SSI 2013/51)
  • 52A The Scottish Police Services Authority, but only in respect of information relating to the provision of the police support services within the meaning of section 3(2) of the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 (added by Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006; removed by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and SSI 2013/51)
  • 75AB The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (added by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and SSI 2013/51)
• A user has alerted us that NHS Property Services is to come into being on 1 April 2013
• Health and Social Care Act 2012:
  • Amends FOIA Schedule 1 Part II [s189]:
    • 35E - A Local Healthwatch organisation, in respect of information held in connection with—

      (a) arrangements made under section 221(1) of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, or

      (b) arrangements made in pursuance of arrangements made under section 221(1) of that Act. (added by Health and Social Care Act 2012 and SI 2013/160)

  • Amends FOIA Schedule 1 Part III:
    • 36A - A Strategic Health Authority established under section 13 of the National Health Service Act 2006 (amended by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006; removed by Health and Social Care Act 2012 and SI 2013/160) [sch5 para99]
    • 39 - A primary care trust established under section 18 of the National Health Service Act 2006 (amended by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006; removed by Health and Social Care Act 2012 and SI 2013/160) [sch5 para99]
  • Amends FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI:
    • The Health and Social Care Information Centre (added by Health and Social Care Act 2012 and SI 2013/160) [sch19 para8]
    • The Health Protection Agency (added by Health Protection Agency Act 2004; removed by Health and Social Care Act 2012 and SI 2013/160) [sch7 para10]
    • The National Information Governance Board for Health and Social Care (added by Health and Social Care Act 2008; removed by Health and Social Care Act 2012 and SI 2013/160) [sch20 para9]
    • The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (added by Health and Social Care Act 2012 and SI 2013/160) [sch17 para8]
  • Abolishes the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, the Health and Social Care Information Centre, and the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement (all special health authorities) [s248, s276, s282]
• Abolition of the National Treatment Agency (another special health authority) by SI 2013/235
• Clinical commissioning groups (many of which have existed prior to April 2013 in a kind of shadow form) will take on responsibilities as local PCTs are abolished.
• Abolition of the Olympic Lottery Distributor (SI 2013/207)

27th May 2013

• Crime and Courts Act 2013 and SI 2013/1042:
  • extends the FOIA Section 23 Exemption to cover information supplied by the National Crime Agency [sch8 para102]
  • amends the definition of government department to exclude the National Crime Agency [sch8 para103]

28th May 2013

• Changes to FOISA Schedule 1:
  • 62 The Central Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace (removed by SSI 2013/126)
  • 62D The Criminal Courts Rules Council (added by SSI 2013/126)
  • 69 A justice of the peace advisory committee (removed by SSI 2013/126)
  • 69 A Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee established under the Justices of the Peace (Scotland) Order 2007 (added by SSI 2013/126)
  • 72A Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (added by SSI 2013/126)
  • 80AA The Scottish Civil Justice Council (added by SSI 2013/126)

31st May 2013

• SSI 2013/136 commences Freedom of Information (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2013

25th June 2013

• Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013 adds to FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI:
  • Groceries Code Adjudicator (added by Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013 and SI 2013/1236)
• Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013:
  • amends FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI [sch20 para2]:
    • An Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales (removed by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013)

1st August 2013

• Abolition of:
  • Adam Smith College, Fife (SSI 2013/179)

    (merged with Carnegie College to form Fife College)

  • Anniesland College and Langside College (SSI 2013/180)

    (merged with Cardonald College to form Glasgow Clyde College)

  • James Watt College (SSI 2013/181)
  • Kilmarnock College (SSI 2013/182)
  • Reid Kerr College (SSI 2013/183)
  • Swansea Metropolitan University (SI 2013/1729)
  • Yale Sixth Form College and Deeside College (SI 2013/1673)

1st September 2013

• Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and SI 2013/1906:
  • Add provisions regarding datasets. [s102]
  • Extend FOIA section 6 to explicitly cover jointly-owned companies. [s103]

1st October 2013

• Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013:
  • amends FOIA Schedule 1 Part I [sch4 para25]:
    • 1 - Any government department other than

      (a) the Competition and Markets Authority,

      (b) the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (amended by Education and Inspections Act 2006, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, and SI 2013/2227)

    • 1ZA - The Competition and Markets Authority, in respect of information held otherwise than as a tribunal (added by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 and SI 2013/2227)

7th October 2013

• Crime and Courts Act 2013 amends FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI:
  • The National Policing Improvement Agency (added by Police and Justice Act 2006; removed by Crime and Courts Act 2013 and SI 2013/1682)

16th December 2013

• Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013:
  • abolishes the agricultural wages committees and agricultural dwelling-house advisory committees for England, leaving only the ones for Wales. [s72]

1st March 2014

• Added to FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI:
  • The Payment Systems Regulator established under section 40 of the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (added by Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 and SI 2014/377)

1st April 2014

• Merger of internal drainage boards: Muston and Yedingham Drainage Board, Rye Internal Drainage Board, Thornton Internal Drainage Board → Vale of Pickering Internal Drainage Board (SI 2014/1030)
• Addition to FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI:
  • The Office for Nuclear Regulation (added by Energy Act 2013 and SI 2014/251)
• Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013:
  • amends FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI: [sch4 para19]
    • The Wales Audit Office (added by Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013 and SI 2013/1466)
  • makes consequential amendments to the FOIA Section 36 Exemption [sch4 para18]

13th May 2014

• Addition to FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI:
  • The College of Policing (added by Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and SI 2014/949)

23rd May 2014

• Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 amends FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI:
  • The Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists (added by Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 and SI 2014/1236)

1st July 2014

• Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals National Health Service Trust dissolved by SI 2014/1597. It's reported that it'll be taken over by the Royal Free London NHSFT.

4th July 2014

• Plymouth College of Art and Design converts from a further education corporation to a higher education corporation by SI 2014/1507

14th July 2014

• Water Act 2014 amends FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI:
  • Any regional flood defence committee (removed by Water Act 2014)
  • Any Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (added by Water Act 2014)
• Defence Reform Act 2014 amends FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI [sch 4 para 21]:
  • The Single Source Regulations Office (added by Defence Reform Act 2014 and SI 2014/1751)

18th July 2014

• SI 2014/1924 amends FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI:
  • Food from Britain (removed by SI 2014/1924)

31st July 2014

• SI 2014/857 abolishes West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (an urban development corporation)

31st August 2014

• SI 2014/2067 establishes the Prospects College of Advanced Technology

1st September 2014

• Addition to FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI:
  • The Police Remuneration Review Body (added by Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and SI 2014/2125)
• Police Negotiating Board removed from FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI, except in Scotland, by SI 2014/2125.

31st October 2014

• Abolition of all probation trusts by SI 2014/2704

April - May 2015

Correspondent suggests we should watch out for the creation of Nythe Parish Council in Swindon, Wiltshire.

1 April 2015

• Local Government reorganisation in Northern Ireland

The reform of local government will see the reduction of 26 councils to 11. The 11 new councils will take over on 1 April 2015. http://www.doeni.gov.uk/index/local_government/local_government_reform.htm

• National Police Chiefs Council created (check FOI status).
• Addition of the Passengers' Council to FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI again (it was already there under its old name)
• Strategic roads network transferred to Highways England Company Limited.

Indefinite

These are changes that appear in primary legislation whose commencement date has not yet been appointed. In some cases, they may never happen at all.

• Communications Act 2003 removes from FOIA Schedule I:
  • The Independent Television Commission
  • The Radio Authority
• Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Act 2004 removes from FOIA Schedule I:
  • The Horserace Betting Levy Board
• National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Act 2004 removes from FOISA Schedule 1:
  • 30 A local health council, established under section 7 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (removed by National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Act 2004)
  • 31 A National Health Service trust (removed by National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Act 2004)
• Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 adds to FOISA Schedule I:
  • The Scottish Committee on Climate Change
• Public Authorities (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 abolishes the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board for Northern Ireland and removes it from FOIA Schedule I Part VII.
• Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010

  Schedule 7 also changes to the Act.

• Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (sch 1 para 14) adds to FOISA Schedule I:
  • 98A The Scottish Sentencing Council.
• Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 amends FOIA Schedule 1 Part VII:
  • A district policing partnership (removed by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011)
  • A policing and community safety partnership or a district policing and community safety partnership established under Part 3 of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (added by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011)
  • A sub-group established under section 21 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 (added by Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2003; removed by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011)
• Health and Social Care Act 2012:
  • Amends FOIA Schedule 1 Part III:
    • 40 - A National Health Service trust established under section 25 of the National Health Service Act 2006 or section 18 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (amended by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006) [sch14 para 81]
• Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 amends FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI [sch5 para 55]
  • The Legal Services Commission (removed by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012)
• National Library of Scotland Act 2012 amends FOISA Schedule 1:
  • 105 The Trustees of the National Library of Scotland The National Library of Scotland (amended by National Library of Scotland Act 2012)
• Justice and Security Act 2013 amends FOIA Schedule 1 Part I:

• Justice and Security Act 2013 also extends the FOIA Section 23 Exemption to cover information supplied by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament
• Intellectual Property Act 2014 [s20] creates a new FOIA exemption for research: FOIA Section 22A Exemption
• Defence Reform Act 2014 amends FOIA Schedule 1 Part VI [sch 4 para 21]:
  • The Review Board for Government Contracts (removed by Defence Reform Act 2014)
• Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act 2014 adds to FOISA Schedule 1:
  • Revenue Scotland (added by Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act 2014)