We will update this page to highlight and link to what’s new in our guidance and Guide to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
March 2024
We have updated our guidance on Section 46 Code of practice - records management.
December 2023
We have updated our guidance on Section 40 (when personal information is exempt from disclosure under these access regimes when certain conditions are met).
November 2023
We have updated our guidance on Requests where the cost of compliance exceeds the appropriate limit (section 12), Calculating costs where a request spans different access regimes, Fees that may be charged when the cost of compliance does not exceed the appropriate limit and Fees that may be charged when the cost of compliance exceeds the appropriate limit.
October 2023
We have updated our guidance on Law enforcement (section 31).
July 2023
We have updated our guidance on Legal professional privilege (section 42).
June 2023
We have updated our guidance on Information accessible to the applicant by other means (section 21).
April 2023
We have added Apply to join the ICO’s Freedom of Information Upstream feedback group to our resources, toolkits and training page.
We have updated our guidance on Recognising a request made under the Freedom of Information Act (section 8).
We have made minor updates to our guidance on section 37.
February 2023
We have updated our guidance on Time limits for compliance under the FOIA.
We have published a new set of resources, toolkits and training. This includes guidance on:
- Keeping internal consultations on FOI requests timely and transparent
- Assessing the level of your compliance with FOIA and EIR timescales
January 2023
We have updated the guidance on:
- Information held by a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act
- Section 36 - Prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs
- Section 36: record of the qualified person’s opinion
- When to refuse to confirm or deny holding information
- Section 35 - Government policy
December 2022
We have updated the guidance on Refusing a request: writing a refusal notice.
September 2022
We have updated the guidance on Public Authorities under the Freedom of Information Act.
August 2022
We have updated the guidance on Public authorities under the EIR.
July 2022
We have updated the guidance on: