Freedom of Information Act 2000FOIAUK · 2000 c. 36
Digiphile
Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36) – Section 3 – Public authorities.

Sections

Section 3Public authorities.

(1) In this Act “public authority” means—
  • (a)
    subject to section 4(4), any body which, any other person who, or the holder of any office which—
  • (b)
    a publicly-owned company as defined by section 6.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, information is held by a public authority if—
  • (a)
    it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person, or
  • (b)
    it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.

Annotations

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

  1. C1 S. 3 modified (29.9.2008 at 8.00 a.m.) by The Bradford & Bingley plc Transfer of Securities and Property etc. Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2546), art. 41
  2. C2 S. 3 modified (7.10.2008 at 9.30 a.m.) by The Heritable Bank plc Transfer of Certain Rights and Liabilities Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2644), art. 29
  3. C3 S. 3 modified (16.7.2026) by The Modification of the Law (British Steel Limited Property Transfer) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/833), regs. 1(2), 4
  4. C4 S. 3(1)(b) modified (30.3.2009 at 8.00 a.m.) by The Amendments to Law (Resolution of Dunfermline Building Society) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/814), art. 8(1)(a)(2)
  5. C5 S. 3(1)(b) modified (22.2.2008) by The Northern Rock plc Transfer Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/432), art. 18(2)(a)
  6. C6 S. 3(1)(b) excluded (1.3.2016) by The NRAM plc (formerly Northern Rock plc) Consequential and Supplementary Provisions Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/114), arts. 1(1), 8(2)(a)
  7. C7 S. 3(2) modified (1.4.2012) by Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011 (c. 4), s. 29, Sch. 3 para. 13(2); S.I. 2011/2576, art. 5
  8. C8 S. 3(2)(b) modified (30.3.2009 at 8.00 a.m.) by The Amendments to Law (Resolution of Dunfermline Building Society) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/814), art. 8(1)(b)(2)
  9. C9 S. 3(2)(b) modified (8.10.2008 at 12.15 p.m.) by The Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander Limited Transfer of Certain Rights and Liabilities Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2674), art. 31
  10. C10 S. 3(2)(b) modified (22.2.2008) by The Northern Rock plc Transfer Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/432), art. 18(2)(b)
  11. C11 S. 3(2)(b) excluded (1.3.2016) by The NRAM plc (formerly Northern Rock plc) Consequential and Supplementary Provisions Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/114), arts. 1(1), 8(2)(b)

https://foia.digiphile.law/article/article-3.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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