UNISON calls for Freedom of Information to follow the money

3rd September 2015

UNISON is calling on the Scottish Government to extend Freedom of Information (FOI) to cover all organisations delivering public services. This call was made in its response (today) to the Scottish Government's consultation on further extension of the coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

The public services trade union also claims that the Scottish Government has spent too long consulting about extending freedom of information and too little time listening to important voices who are calling on the Scottish Government to act. UNISON are joining with a wide range of organisations who are calling for this extension. UNISON believe, for example, that private contractors delivering public services, voluntary organisations delivering big public contracts and housing associations should be covered by FOI.

Dave Watson, UNISON Scottish organiser for bargaining and campaigns said ‘UNISON welcome Nicola Sturgeon's statement that openness and transparency are priorities for her government. It is why we are calling on her to extend Freedom of Information to cover all organisations who deliver any public service, regardless of who delivers them. There is no reason why, for example, PPP/PFI contractors should not be included under the act. Public services involve large amounts of public money and all bodies delivering them should expect to be fully accountable to the people they serve. The public have a right to know how their money is being spent. Put simply information rights should follow the money'.