The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has finalised the new model publication scheme which it is encouraging all public authorities to adopt in order to comply with their obligations under section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (namely to adopt and maintain a publication scheme). This follows the ICO's consultation on the draft scheme (see Legal update, ICO publishes new model publication scheme). It has also issued the first of its sector-specific definition documents, for the central government sector, which provides examples of the type of information to be published. The ICO has published a new guide for local authorities on how to operate a publication scheme, which includes a series of frequently asked questions. In the guide, the ICO explains that approval of current schemes expires on 31 December 2008, after which it will assume that a public authority has adopted the model scheme unless it is told otherwise. The Information Commissioner has warned that the ICO will be making spot checks from February 2009 - an enforcement notice can be served on an authority which has not adopted the model scheme or an approved alternative.

Source: ICO notice, 6 May 2008.