Source: ICO
New guidance explains the publication scheme and new dataset provisions
The dataset amendments to the FOI Act, made by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, came into force on 1 September 2013.
The changes mean that public authorities are now required to publish datasets in their publication schemes. The requirement only applies to datasets that have been requested under the Act, although public authorities are encouraged to consider datasets for publication in a re-usable format proactively.
These provisions came into force on 1 September 2013 and so the Commissioner has revised the approved model publication schemes currently available on the website.