Law of Freedom of Information: First Cumulative Supplement

This cumulative supplement to The Law of Freedom of Information covers all key developments in the subject up to June 2005. It is an essential purchase for all who already own the main work, and maintains its currency. The supplement updates the main work paragraph by paragraph, following the same structure as the main work. It includes full analysis of the guidance issued by the Department for Constitutional Affairs in October 2004 and the current awareness guidance and policy development documents issued by the Information Commissioner. The authors also examine the first decisions of the Commissioner and the decisions of the Ombudsman including her ruling on the disclosure of the advice given by theAttorney General on the legality of the war with Iraq. In addition, the supplement covers recent decisions from the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Ireland, as well as UK decisions on data protection and confidentiality.The comprehensive, analytical approach of the main work provides the complete reference volume for practitioners advising on the relevant legislation: those working within or advising the myriad public bodies upon which the Freedom of Information Act 2000 imposes new duties regarding the disclosure and handling of information; those advising clients with a personal, professional or commercial interest in obtaining information from those newly obliged to provide it; and those in the businesscommunity for whom the Act raises important concerns about the potential accessibility of commercially sensitive informationThe supplement and the main work are also available as a pack (ISBN 0199288054: £180.00).

Richard Scott, the judge who through his inquiry into the arms-to-Iraq affair a few years ago put freedom of information high on the public agenda, rightly observes in a Foreword that, although written as a practitioners' book, "the commendably simple, clear language of the text will make its exposition of the law as accessible to non-lawyers as to lawyers". This is a book which no serious practitioner can do without. ... Much has been written about the FOI Act, but this is, beyond doubt, the most authoritative analytical work on the subject., ..The approach, layout, and content were very good...the editorial skill lies in the developing a full, accurate but concise statement of the law and the relevent principles to be applied, with suitable footnote, references and analysis. In this object, the book achieves substantial success., ... major work on freedom of information ... will be hugely valuable as a reference book in the years ahead as lawyers struggle with the complexities of the new legislation ... the commendably simple, clear language of the text will make the book's exposition of the law as accessible to non-lawyers as to lawyers.

John Macdonald QC is a leading public law silk and high profile campaigner for freedom of information and human rights legislation.Clive H. Jones is a public law and commercial barrister with extensive experience advising local authorities upon commercial and property matters, including tendering out and duties owed to the homeless and aslyum seekers.