Scottish charities avoid FOIs for fear of offending funders

Governance | Vibeka Mair | 6 Jan 2010

Almost half of the voluntary sector in Scotland fear using freedom of information (FOI) requests in case of harm to working or funding relationships, according to research from the University of Strathclyde on the use of FOI laws by the voluntary sector.

The survey, released to coincide with the 5th anniversary of Scotland’s FOI laws, quizzed 300 Scottish voluntary organisations. It found that organisations who received a large amount of funding from a public authority were more likely to be discouraged from using FOIs.

Further, organisations which had been refused an FOI at the initial stage feared pursuing a review for public relation reasons. Around half (47.4 per cent) of respondents stated they had decided not to seek a review on the grounds it might damage working or funding relations or both.

Disappointingly, the survey also found that where requests for information were refused, more than half of respondents (55 per cent) reported that the public authority failed to notify them of their right to appeal against the refusal, despite there being a legal requirement to do so.

Kevin Dunion (pictured), the Scottish Information Commissioner said: “I am concerned that a substantial proportion of voluntary sector staff think that using their freedom of information rights will harm relations with public authorities, or may even lead to a loss in funding.

“In passing the FOI Act, the Scottish Parliament’s intention was to transform the culture within Scottish public authorities, making them more open and accountable to everyone, regardless of where they are from, or who they represent. No-one should fear the consequences of making an FOI request.”

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