The Freedom of Information (Designation as Public Authorities) Order 2015
The obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the Act”) apply to public authorities. For the purposes of the Act, a “public authority” includes a body or office which is designated by an order under section 5 of the Act. Section 5(1)(a) of the Act provides that the Secretary of State may, subject to certain limitations, by order designate as a public authority for the purposes of the Act a person who appears to the Secretary of State to exercise functions of a public nature.