FOIwiki:Current events

Well, more future than current really. Events that are likely to require updates to FOIwiki and WhatDoTheyKnow and other FOI related news.

31 May 2010 Transparency Letter

• http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/statements-and-articles/2010/05/letter-to-government-departments-on-opening-up-data-51204

1st April 2010

• Establishment of the South Downs National Park Authority by SI 2010/497.
• Establishment of six new Community Health Councils by SI 2010/289:
  • Aneurin Bevan Community Health Council
  • Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Community Health Council
  • Betsi Cadwaladr Community Health Council
  • Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Community Health Council
  • Cwm Taf Community Health Council
  • Hywel Dda Community Health Council
• ... and the abolition of:
  • Conway East Community Health Council
  • Conway West Community Health Council
  • Clwyd Community Health Council
  • Gogledd Gwynedd Community Health Council
  • Meirionnydd Community Health Council
  • Ynys Môn Community Health Council
  • Gwent Community Health Council
  • Cardiff Community Health Council
  • Vale of Glamorgan Community Health Council
  • Merthyr and Cynon Valley Community Health Council
  • Pontypridd and Rhondda Community Health Council
  • Swansea Community Health Council
  • Neath Port Talbot Community Health Council
  • Bridgend Community Health Council
  • Carmarthenshire Community Health Council
  • Pembrokeshire Community Health Council
  • Ceredigion Community Health Council
• Establishment of Cambridgeshire Community Services National Health Service Trust by SI 2010/727.
• Abolition of the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee[1]
• NHS Professionals Special Health Authority expected to be dissolved, with the business passing to NHS Professionals Limited.[2]
• Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust became Blackburn with Darwen Teaching Care Trust Plus
• Abolition of East and North Hertfordshire and West Hertfordshire PCTs, and establishment of Hertfordshire PCT (SI 2010/798)
• Abolition of Bedfordshire and Luton Mental Health and Social Care NHS Trust (SI 2010/838)
• Establishment of the Young People's Learning Agency for England and dissolution of the Learning and Skills Council for England (Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 and SI 2010/303)
• Abolition of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (SI 2010/234 and SI 2010/478)
• Establishment of several probation trusts by SI 2010/195
• Establishment of The Local Government Boundary Commission for England by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009

1st June 2010

• Authorisation of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

5th July 2010

• Winding up of Personal Accounts Delivery Authority (SI 2010/911)
• Establishment of National Employment Savings Trust Corporation (SI 2010/3 and SI 2010/10)

1st August 2010

• Abolition and removal from Schedule I of the Hearing Aid Council (Health and Social Care Act 2008 and SI 2010/708)

1st September 2010

• Addition to FOIA Schedule I of (Academies Act 2010 and SI 2010/1937) (Only in relation to the proprietor of an Academy opening on or after 1st September 2010):

52A (1)The proprietor of an Academy, in respect of information held for the purposes of the proprietor’s functions under Academy arrangements.

(2)In sub-paragraph (1)—

• “Academy arrangements” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Academies Act 2010;
• “proprietor” has the meaning given by section 579(1) of the Education Act 1996.

27th September 2010

• Changes to FOIA Schedule I by SI 2010/231 and SI 2010/1621:
  • General Pharmaceutical Council established and added
  • Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain removed

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

• The list of quangos up for review is still being compiled.

• Main article: Bonfire of the quangos

1st October 2010

• Addition to FOIA Schedule I of (SI 2010/937):
  • 35C. An urban development corporation established under section 135 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980.
  • The Commission on Human Medicines
  • The Film Industry Training Board for England and Wales
  • The Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee
  • The Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact
  • The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales
  • The National Consumer Council
  • The National Non-Food Crops Centre
  • The Office of the Renewable Fuels Agency
  • The Personal Accounts Delivery Authority
  • The Railway Heritage Committee
  • The Regulator of Community Interest Companies
  • The Science Advisory Council
• Removal from FOIA Schedule I of (SI 2010/939):
  • The Adjudicator for the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise
  • The Advisory Committee on Advertising
  • The Advisory Committee on Consumer Products and the Environment
  • The Committee on Chemicals and Materials of Construction For Use in Public Water Supply and Swimming Pools
  • The Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy
  • The Expert Group on Cryptosporidium in Water Supplies
  • The Food Advisory Committee
  • The Know-How Fund Advisory Board
  • The Medicines Commission
  • The National Care Standards Commission
  • The Overseas Service Pensions Scheme Advisory Board
  • The Social Services Inspectorate for Wales Advisory Group
  • The Specialist Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Research
  • The Water Regulations Advisory Committee
  • The Wine Standards Board of the Vintners’ Company
  • Enterprise Ulster
  • The Northern Ireland Pig Production Development Committee
• Removal from FOISA Schedule I of (Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 and SSI 2010/221):
  • Deer Commission for Scotland (functions transferred to Scottish Natural Heritage)
  • Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (functions transferred to Scottish Natural Heritage)
  • Scottish Records Advisory Council (functions transferred to Scottish Ministers)
  • Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board
  • Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland (rights and liabilities transferred to Scottish Ministers)

1st January 2011

• Addition to FOIA Schedule I of (Academies Act 2010 and SI 2010/1937) (in relation to all Academies):

52A (1)The proprietor of an Academy, in respect of information held for the purposes of the proprietor’s functions under Academy arrangements.

(2)In sub-paragraph (1)—

• “Academy arrangements” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Academies Act 2010;
• “proprietor” has the meaning given by section 579(1) of the Education Act 1996.

April 2011

• Scottish Parliamentary Commissions and Commissioners etc. Act 2010 comes into force - this makes the following new bodies subject to FOI(S)A:
  • The Commission for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland in the performance of its functions under section 1(7) of the Scottish Parliamentary Commissions and Commissioners etc. Act 2010
  • The Public Appointments Commissioner for Scotland

October 2011

• designations that were expected under section 5[3]:
  • Association of Chief Police Officers
  • Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
  • Academy Trusts

31st December 2011

• Addition to FOIA Schedule I of:[4]
  • The Building Regulations Advisory Committee for England.
  • The Building Regulations Advisory Committee for Wales.
• Removal from FOIA Schedule I of:[5]
  • The Building Regulations Advisory Committee

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.

• Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 amends FOISA Schedule I:
  • remove 62B The Convener of the Water Customer Consultation Panels
  • add 62C Creative Scotland
  • remove 78 The Scottish Arts Council
  • remove 98 Scottish Screen

Child Poverty Act 2010

Schedule 1, Paragraph 21:

21 In Part 6 of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (other public bodies and offices: general) at the appropriate place insert—

“The Child Poverty Commission.”

Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010

Schedule 2, Paragraph 12:

12 In Part 6 of Schedule 1 for “The Civil Service Commissioners” substitute “The Civil Service Commission”.

Schedule 7 also makes other changes to the Act.