Freedom of Information Act 2000
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) provides a general right of access to recorded information held by ‘public authorities’, as defined by section 3 with reference to bodies listed in Schedule 1, or companies as defined within section 6 of that Act.
	IPCO is not listed as a Schedule 1 ‘public authority’ for the purposes of FOIA and therefore the information it holds is not accessible under that legislation. However, the previous legislative position means that information shared by IPCO, or which relates to its activities, and which is held by a public authority as defined in FOIA is accessible. While a public authority, in consultation with IPCO, may seek to apply one of the exemptions in FOIA, the final decision on disclosure (including where applicable the balance of the public interest) rests with the public authority.
	This Act adds JCs (a term that includes the IPC) to the list of bodies dealing with security matters at section 23 of FOIA. Section 23 provides an absolute exemption, thereby protecting information held by other public authorities which relates to the activities of JCs.