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The Freedom of Information Act has become a major tool for journalists seeking to uncover information about how we are governed.

On this page you will find an index of the stories we have carried about regional press journalists who have successfully used the Act in pursuit of the public's right to know.

See our full guide to the Freedom of Information Act.

Other useful websites:

  • Ministry of Justice website – FoI Section
  • The FoI Act in full
  • Freedom of Information in Scotland
  • FreedomofInformation.co.uk
  • Campaign for Freedom of Information blog



    • Paper wins 18-month Freedom of Information battle
    Ruling means council must reveal planned sites for Operation Stack

    'Secrets' newspaper archive goes online
    FoI Act fans can see early days of fight for better information

    FoI Act could be extended north of the border
    Contractors and police chiefs would come under Act's remit

    FoI request uncovers 99-year-old burglary suspect
    Newspaper reveals extent of criminality among society's elders

    Herald reveals executive expenses at BBC Scotland
    FoI request reveals cheeseboard and champagne purchases

    Weekly forces council to back down over audit
    Councillors' expense claims exposed after legal row

    Freedom of Information Act to be extended
    Bodies including ACPO could come under Act's remit

    Agency's online guide to beat town hall secrecy
    News agency boss names and shames publicity-shy councils

    Newspaper's FoI bid to name fugitives rejected
    Naming escaped prisoners could breach privacy rights

    Brown unveils plans to extend scope of FoI
    Act could be broadened to take in quangos

    Newspaper exposes high price of bins and benches
    'Designer' ring road development comes under scrunity

    Victory for paper in hospital closure secrecy row
    Information commissioner raps health trust

    Photographers go 'green' for annual award
    Plus: How the police lost £2,000, graduate scheme open for applications – and more news in brief

    Newspaper reveals true cost of failed council plan
    Journal uses FoI to reveal taxpayers' bill in wind farm row along with other exclusive stories

    Freelancers' well-being comes under NUJ spotlight
    New survey to discover pros and cons of freelancing, courses on Freedom of Information – and more news in brief

    Brown is "good friend to press freedom"
    Freedom of information now "part of fabric of public life"

    Paper wins fight over web TV channel funding
    Council to be forced to disclose cost of internet channel

    Training council unveils journalism awards shortlist
    Judges note "good use" of Freedom of Information Act

    Mail investigation exposes "secret police"
    Editor hits out at force's "no communications policy"

    Freedom of Information pioneer wants to keep MPs' addresses private
    Lord Clark backs a Government order to leave members' home addresses outside the remit of the Act

    Agency boss helps reporters lift the lid on council spending
    Four-week council audits provide rich source of news

    Town hall man stands ground in secrecy row
    Medway fails to make headway after showing reporter the door

    Minister in bid to settle court lists wrangle
    Magistrates court decisions should be made available electronically says Justice Department

    Newspaper wins exclusive over 'secret' council salary info
    Rejected request for information brings its own story for KM Group

    Newspaper backed after PR chief's muck-raking accusation
    Despite failed FoI requests paper claims 'moral victory' in council investigation saga

    Press freedom campaign group's fresh call for wider FoI remit
    Private contractors should be brought under auspices of information act says lobby body

    Newspaper wins lengthy battle to see £40,000 council study
    Evening Post calls on Information Commissioner to see report – then brands it "unexciting"

    Regional press continues to push for information under FOI
    See how news stories are being generated through questions to public bodies

    Information is the new infrastructure of society - FoI minister
    Michael Wills MP speaks out on access to information at editors' conference

    Media industry urged to 'fight tooth and nail' over FOI changes
    Top newspaper lawyer hits out at Government which has "given up both with judiciary and media"

    Commons committee slams moves to restrict FOI
    Proposed changes to legislation should be dropped, says report

    Controversial FOI bill fails to win support in House of Lords
    Opponents hail news as a triumph for democracy

    New FOI legislation attempt due
    Ten Minute Rule to be invoked as MP makes his point in the Commons

    MPs hit back at bid to exclude them from FOI laws
    More than 50 put their names to Early Day Motion claiming move would undermine Parliament

    MPs vote to exclude themselves from FOI laws
    Controversial bill to be discussed in the House of Lords next

    Bid to exempt MPs' expenses from FOI due to resume today
    Industry body urges MPs to attend the debate and vote against the proposals

    Probe finds council went ahead with failed flights plan despite warnings
    News group reveals how £300,000 of public money was lost after council ignored its own consultants

    Blogger wins key role at Information Commission's office
    Freedom of Information blogger Steve Wood has started work for the Information Commissioner

    Fresh Govt consultation on FOI to ask: 'Should we change Act at all?'
    Call for more reaction from members of the public, public authorities and the media

    Industry figures back journalists' right to seek information
    'We ask for no special privileges', says Satchwell as criticism of media is answered

    Call for media to work with public authorities to to improve FOI
    Media's open-ended and "fishing" requests could jeopardise needs of others, says Lord Falconer

    Chronicle bids to overturn police decision on sex offenders
    Paper appeals for right to reveal number of offenders, not their identities

    No fee changes for Scottish FOI after Executive review
    Decision is welcomed as work begins to extend Act beyond public authorities

    Daily Press waits on FOI appeal over chief exec's quit mystery
    Paper asks Information Commissioner to step in after council holds back documents

    Controversial speed cam stats handed over after two-year Free Press fight
    Tribunal rules on paper's investigation to show speed cameras brought in £1.2m

    'Flawed' FOI proposals to cost money, not make savings - report
    Charity warns that Government "needs to go back to the drawing board" on FOI changes

    Gazette praised in Parliament for FOI use
    MP tells debate how his local paper has uncovered valuable information in the public interest

    Proposed FOI changes could see campaigning papers 'punished'
    "The applicant who regularly appeals against refusals may be made to pay a price for doing so"

    Two-year FOI battle over 'Donnygate' quiz ends in victory for the Star
    Paper wins fight to reveal which councillors paid expenses back after audit revealed 'jet set' lifestyle

    Shock figures and surprise headlines follow FOI flurry for Telegraph
    Car crime, drug use and vandalism come under spotlight as paper puts FOI Act to good use


    Freedom of Information Archive Stories


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