Freedom of Information Act 2000FOIAUK · 2000 c. 36
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Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36) – Section 20 – Model publication schemes.

Sections

Section 20Model publication schemes.

(1) The [F1Commission] may from time to time approve, in relation to public authorities falling within particular classes, model publication schemes prepared by [F2the Commission] or by other persons.
(2) Where a public authority falling within the class to which an approved model scheme relates adopts such a scheme without modification, no further approval of the [F3Commission] is required so long as the model scheme remains approved; and where such an authority adopts such a scheme with modifications, the approval of the [F3Commission] is required only in relation to the modifications.
(3) The [F4Commission] may, when approving a model publication scheme, provide that [F5its] approval is to expire at the end of a specified period.
(4) Where the [F6Commission] has approved a model publication scheme, [F7the Commission] may at any time publish, in such manner as [F7the Commission] thinks fit, a notice revoking [F8its] approval of the scheme as from the end of the period of six months beginning with the day on which the notice is published.
(5) Where the [F9Commission] refuses to approve a proposed model publication scheme on the application of any person, [F10the Commission] must give the person who applied for approval of the scheme a statement of the reasons for [F11the] refusal.
(6) Where the [F12Commission] refuses to approve any modifications under subsection (2), [F13the Commission] must give the public authority a statement of the reasons for [F14the] refusal.
(7) Where the [F15Commission] revokes [F16its] approval of a model publication scheme, [F17the Commission] must include in the notice under subsection (4) a statement of [F16its] reasons for doing so.

Amended text

This Section is shown as amended by S.I. 2026/386 (see the annotations below), as incorporated in the text in force on 7 October 2026 as published on legislation.gov.uk.

Annotations

Textual Amendments

  1. F1 Word in s. 20(1) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(a)(i); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
  2. F2 Words in s. 20(1) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(a)(ii); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
  3. F3 Word in s. 20(2) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(b); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
  4. F4 Word in s. 20(3) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(c)(i); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
  5. F5 Word in s. 20(3) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(c)(ii); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
  6. F6 Word in s. 20(4) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(d)(i); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
  7. F7 Words in s. 20(4) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(d)(ii); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
  8. F8 Word in s. 20(4) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(d)(iii); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
  9. F9 Word in s. 20(5) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(e)(i); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
  10. F10 Words in s. 20(5) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(e)(ii); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
  11. F11 Word in s. 20(5) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(e)(iii); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
  12. F12 Word in s. 20(6) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(f)(i); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
  13. F13 Words in s. 20(6) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(f)(ii); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
  14. F14 Word in s. 20(6) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(f)(iii); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
  15. F15 Word in s. 20(7) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(g)(i); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
  16. F16 Word in s. 20(7) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(g)(ii); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
  17. F17 Words in s. 20(7) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12(6)(g)(iii); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)

Commencement Information

  1. I1 S. 20 wholly in force at 1.1.2005; s. 20 in force for certain purposes at Royal Assent, see s. 87(1)(c)(3); s. 20 otherwise in force at 1.1.2005 by S.I. 2004/3122, art. 2

https://foia.digiphile.law/article/article-20.html

Text as at 7 October 2026.

This is an unofficial convenience version of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. It is presented “as is” without guarantee of accuracy, completeness or reliability. See the source text for the official version. This site was last updated in October 2026.

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