Freedom of Information Bill in the Lords

The new law:

• provides a right of access to recorded information held by public authorities;
• creates exemptions from the duty to disclose information; and
• establishes the arrangements for enforcement and appeal.

It will also create an offence of tampering with personal data. The Bill provides that the offence will be committed if, following a request by an individual for access to personal data held on him or her, any person “alters, defaces, blocks, erases, destroys or conceals” any record which the requestor is entitled to.

The offence does not interfere with routine updates, changes and deletions to personal data.