What Is Freedom of Information?
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives anyone the right to request recorded information held by public authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has its own equivalent, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. You don't need to be a UK citizen — anyone, anywhere in the world, can make an FOI request to a UK public body.
Public authorities must respond within 20 working days. The information is free unless it would cost over £450 to locate and extract (£600 for central government), in which case the authority can refuse or ask you to narrow your request.
Who Can You Ask?
Over 100,000 public bodies are covered, including local councils, government departments (HMRC, DWP, Home Office, etc.), NHS trusts, police forces, schools and universities, the BBC, and many regulatory bodies. Private companies are generally not covered, even if they provide public services under contract.
Writing an Effective Request
The key to a successful FOI request is specificity. Vague requests get refused as "too broad" or take longer to process. Here's what works:
- Be precise about what you want — "all spending on consultants" is vague; "total spend on external IT consultants in FY 2024/25, broken down by supplier" is specific
- Include date ranges — "in the last 12 months" or "between April 2024 and March 2025"
- Ask for data in spreadsheet format — easier to analyse than PDFs
- Don't explain why you want it — you don't need a reason, and giving one can sometimes be used against you
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Open FOI Generator →Common Exemptions
| Section | Exemption | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| S.40 | Personal data | Can't release info that would identify individuals |
| S.41 | Confidential information | Info provided in confidence by third parties |
| S.43 | Commercial interests | Info that would harm commercial interests — must apply public interest test |
| S.35 | Policy formulation | Internal advice and deliberation — often overused by government |
| S.36 | Prejudice to governance | Would inhibit free and frank discussion |
| S.12 | Cost limit exceeded | Would cost over £450/£600 to find — ask to narrow |
What If Your Request Is Refused?
Step 1: Internal review. Ask the authority to reconsider. They must have a different, more senior person review the decision. This is free and takes around 20 working days.
Step 2: ICO complaint. If the internal review upholds the refusal and you still disagree, complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The ICO investigates and can order disclosure. This is free but can take months.
Step 3: Tribunal. If you disagree with the ICO's decision, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights). This is also free.
Tips from Experience
- Check WhatDoTheyKnow.com first — someone may have already asked the same thing
- If refused on cost grounds, narrow and re-submit — "just 2024/25" instead of "last 5 years"
- Ask for the information "already held" — authorities don't have to create new documents
- Follow up on day 21 — many authorities miss the deadline until chased
- Request a fee schedule if told the cost limit is exceeded — sometimes it's close to the threshold and narrowing slightly fixes it
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