Freedom of Information (Scotland): The Exemptions - Act Now

The exemptions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 allow public authorities to protect information that if disclosed may cause unjustified harm to a range of public interests.

However, applying them inappropriately can lead to adverse decisions from the Commissioner and reputational damage.

This interactive workshop examines all the FOISA exemptions in detail, highlighting key Commissioner and court decisions. By the end of the course you will understand the exemptions and what should be included in Refusal Notices

Alongside the tutor's expert knowledge, the case studies and exercises will enhance your knowledge of the Scottish FOI regime. This in an intermediate course. You should have a working knowledge of FOISA.

Key Topics

• The types of exemption; absolute and qualified
• Prejudice based exemptions-how do they work in practice?
• Qualified exemptions- how to do a Public Interest Test
• Administrative exemptions
• Justice exemptions
• The EIR exemption
• Drafting a Refusal Notice
• Internal Reviews and Enforcement