SPIF 1 December 2025 Please join us at the online meeting of the Scottish Public Information Forum (SPIF) on 1st of December at 2pm to celebrate Human Rights Defenders Day and International Human Rights Day. The speakers are:
- Feli Strickmann, FragDenStaat to explain its work and how it secured public support to defend and save the FoI law that was due to be abolished by the newly elected German Government in 2024.
- Marzena Błaszczyk, Citizens Network Watchdog Poland to explain its work and why Scotland’s FoI Reform Bill is a beacon internationally.
- Catherine Russell Care Home Relatives Scotland on why a reformed FoI law matters in Scotland
There will also be reports and updates from: David Hamilton Scottish Information Commissioner Deborah Clark Office of UK ICO Michael Birrell Scottish Government and an FoI Reform Bill update from CFoIS
What: SPIF
When: Monday 1 December at 2:00PM to 4:00PM GMT
Where: Online
Cost: Free – Tickets available to book via Eventbrite.
SPIF 26 September 2025 The Scottish Public Information Forum (SPIF) will meet on the 26th of September to celebrate 20 years of FoISA with a focus on whether Scotland will become a global FoI leader. This meeting of SPIF has a global focus to inform and alert people to international best practice and the opportunity for Scotland to lead the way by fixing our outdated FoI law. Everyone is welcome to attend.
For information on the impact and use of FoISA, check out ‘Celebrating 20 years of FOI – in 20 numbers’ published by the Commissioner and Katy Clark MSP’s Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill.
The meeting will be chaired by Lord Wallace of Tankerness who, as Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, piloted the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill through the Scottish Parliament in 2002.
Speakers include: David Clegg, Editor of the Dundee Courier Katy Clark MSP who introduced the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament on 2nd June David Hamilton, the Scottish Information Commissioner Former Scottish Information Commissioners Kevin Dunion, Rosemary Agnew and Daren Fitzhenry
There will also be updates and reports delivered by
Scottish Government
Office of UK ICO
Scottish Information Commissioner
CFoIS
View the agenda here.
What: Scottish Public Information Forum meeting When: 26 September at 11:00AM to 1:00PM GMT
Where: Committee Room 2, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP; Option for joining online also available.
Cost: Free
You can book a free ticket via Eventbrite.
SPIF 16 June 2025 Reforming Scotland’s 23 yrs old FoI Law was the focus of the online meeting of SPIF on Monday 16th June which was chaired by Dr Ben Worthy. 55 participants heard about the detail of the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill from Katy Clark MSP and the reactions to the Bill from David Hamilton the Scottish Information Commissioner, and from Carole Ewart of CFoIS. Reports were given by the Scottish Government on their FoI activities, as well as from the Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner and CFoIS.
Minutes of Past Meetings of SPIF
26 September 2025
16th June 2025
23rd September 2024
10th June 2024
28th September 2023
26th April 2023
13th February 2023
9th December 2022
28th September 2022
28th February 2022