Legal requirement

Adopting a publication scheme is a requirement of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Act promotes greater openness and accountability across public sectors by requiring all 'public authorities' to make information available, through a publication scheme.

The Act gives a general right of access to all types of 'recorded' information held by public authorities subject to certain exemptions set out in the Act. The right of access to information under the Act for individuals came into force in January 2005. 

As well as this general right of access, the Act places public authorities under certain obligations. Under the Act public authorities must adopt and maintain a publication scheme setting out all the information that they publish, or intend to publish in accordance with the Act.

'Public authorities' are defined in the Act and include universities, further education colleges and sixth form colleges.