The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act is entering a pivotal "pressure-test" year in 2026. With legislative reform proposals currently moving through the Scottish Parliament, the very definition of what constitutes a "public authority" is under scrutiny. This conference addresses the urgent questions surrounding transparency in a modern governance landscape where public services are increasingly delivered through complex partnerships, arms-length bodies, and private contractors.
The event provides a deep dive into the practicalities of FOI management in a digital-first environment. Practitioners are facing a "perfect storm" of rising request volumes, increasingly sophisticated requests from journalists and activists, and the technical challenge of searching unstructured data within messaging apps and private emails used for official business. We will host a panel of experts to discuss the likely impact of the upcoming legislative changes, specifically focusing on the extension of FOI rights to private entities performing public functions.
Delegates will benefit from sessions on "Best Practice by Design"—how to build transparency into the procurement and service delivery phase rather than treating FOI as a reactive administrative burden. We will also hear from the Scottish Information Commissioner’s office regarding recent appeals and the standard of "proactive disclosure" expected in 2026. This is a must-attend event for FOI officers and governance leads who need to ensure their organization remains compliant while protecting the integrity of the decision-making process.
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