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Open and accountable Government
10/12/2008
The Scottish Government is leading the way in promoting openness and transparency in public life, according to Minister for Parliamentary Business Bruce Crawford.
Mr Crawford will tell delegates at today's Holyrood Conference on Freedom of Information (FOI), that more information about the work of Ministers and the Scottish Government is available to the public than ever before.
Ahead of the conference, Mr Crawford said:
"Our experience in opposition gave us an insight into how FOI was working. We have taken that insight into Government and brought with us an approach that considers 'how much information can we make available' rather than 'what do we have to do to comply with our statutory obligations'.
"Freedom of information has given public bodies the opportunity to consider how they make information available. I know it is a cultural change that some organisations have struggled with, at least initially. But in focussing minds on the importance of transparency it has strengthened the relationship between public bodies and the tax payers who fund them. That can only be a good thing.
"We have led that cultural change in Scotland. We operate according to six guiding principles of Freedom of Information. These principles made a clear commitment to supporting FOI, to making changes to the legislation where it is sensible to do so, and to being proactive in publishing information.
"There are two key aspects to FOI for public authorities. The first is of course to respond to requests for information. The second is to publish information proactively. Earlier this year we launched our revised publication scheme, which demonstrates the huge range of information that Government now makes available.
"Only last month I announced that the details about Ministerial travel and diary information will now be published on a quarterly basis. It is only right and sensible that the public know more about how Scottish Ministers spend their working days.
"In addition we are currently running a pilot looking at how we can routinely publish significantly more of the information we produce. Publishing larger volumes of information requires a culture where there is both clarity about what information should be kept as part of the record, and also where we do not obscure key information amidst a clutter of ephemeral material.
"And also last month I published a discussion paper that raises the possibility of extending the scope of the FOI Act to certain types of public body not already covered.
"There are complex legal, financial and practical issues to be considered about extension. We must examine what the benefits would be of covering certain bodies - would it actually enhance their transparency and accountability? And in these difficult economic times I would not wish to disproportionately increase the strain or burden that some organisations might be challenged with.
"So the proposal is real - but I shall not make any final decision about coverage until I hear the full range of views.
"In the months ahead we will publish more information than ever before. The people of Scotland deserve an open Government - and that is what we are pledged to continuing to deliver."