From today, 30th January, the Office of the Data Protection
Commissioner is known as the Office of the Information
Commissioner. It will continue to enforce the Data Protection Act
1998, and is now also responsible for Freedom of Information.
Elizabeth France, now entitled the Information Commissioner, who
will be responsible for implementing the Freedom of Information
Act, has urged public authorities to start planning.
The Freedom of Information Act gives a general right of access
to recorded information held by public authorities, which include
Government departments, local authorities, NHS bodies, schools,
colleges and universities, the police and others.
As soon as an authority is brought within the scope of the Act and
where an exemption does not apply, anyone will be able to exercise
his or her right of access to the information that authority holds,
whether personal or non-personal.
The Commissioner, who will have combined responsibility for
implementing the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, has advised public authorities to begin
auditing their current data handling practices in the light of
their future freedom of information responsibilities.
Under the Data Protection Act 1998, individuals already have the
right to access information about themselves. The Freedom of
Information Act extends this right to include non-personal
information.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Information Commissioner,
Elizabeth France (previously Data Protection Commissioner)
commented:
“My Office’s new role will enable us to
offer an integrated and coherent approach to information handling
and provide a single point of contact for public authorities and
the public”.
