তথ্য স্বাধীনতার অধিকার
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives you the right to access information held by public authorities in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (Scotland has its own FOI Act). This is a powerful tool for transparency and accountability — you do not need to give a reason for your request.
Last updated: 2026-03-08
Your Rights
Right to Request Information
Anyone can make an FOI request to any public authority. You do not need to be a UK citizen or resident. The request must be in writing (including email) and describe the information you want.
Right to a Response Within 20 Working Days
The public authority must respond to your request promptly and in any event within 20 working days. Extensions are allowed in limited circumstances (e.g., when considering the public interest test).
Right to Know If Information Is Held
The authority must confirm or deny whether it holds the information you have requested, unless an exemption applies to that confirmation or denial itself.
Right to an Internal Review
If your request is refused, you can ask the authority to carry out an internal review of its decision. There is no statutory time limit for requesting this, but it should be done promptly.
Right to Complain to the ICO
If you are dissatisfied after internal review, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which can order disclosure.
Right to Appeal to the Tribunal
If the ICO's decision is unsatisfactory, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights) and then to the Upper Tribunal.
Common Myths
You need to explain why you want the information
FOI is 'applicant-blind' and 'motive-blind'. You never need to give a reason for your request. The authority must consider the request on its merits regardless of who is asking or why.
Private companies are covered by FOI
FOI only covers public authorities (government departments, councils, NHS, police, schools, etc.). Private companies are not covered unless they carry out public functions under a contract with a public authority.
The authority can charge you whatever it wants
Most FOI requests are free. Authorities can only charge if the cost of finding and retrieving the information exceeds the statutory limit (£450 for most bodies, £600 for central government). Even then, they can only charge for staff time at £25/hour.
What To Do
Identify the right authority
Work out which public body is most likely to hold the information you want. Check the ICO's list of public authorities if unsure.
Make your request in writing
Email or write to the authority. Include your name, an address for correspondence, and a clear description of the information you want. You do not need to mention the FOI Act.
Be specific but not too narrow
Describe the information clearly. If your request is too vague, the authority may ask you to clarify. If it's too narrow, you may miss relevant documents.
Chase if no response in 20 working days
If you don't receive a response within 20 working days, send a follow-up email reminding them of their statutory duty.
Request internal review if refused
If your request is refused, write back asking for an internal review. Then complain to the ICO if still dissatisfied.
Key Legislation
- Freedom of Information Act 2000
- Environmental Information Regulations 2004
- Data Protection Act 2018
- Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015