freedom of information act

• established in 2000
• established a 'right of access' of information from public bodies as long as it does not threaten national security
• promotes reform of public bodies
• allows the public to hold the government to account
• helps the public understand how public bodies operate
• established because the UK government was seen as too secretive compared to other modern democracies
• increases transparency
• in 2009, journalists used this act to expose the expenses scandal
• in 2013, the BBC utilised the act to access the fact that hundred of thousands of 101 calls had gone unanswered