Care home and 'care at home' service providers - FOISA extension: consultation - easy read version

Introduction

When the Government wants to make an important change, they must ask the people first. This is called a consultation.

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) is a law that gives people the right to get information from the government and public services in Scotland.

The Freedom of Information laws allow the Scottish Government to apply the law to other organisations. This can include organisations that provide public services.

The Scottish Government thinks social care services like care homes or care at home are important for our communities. Many of these services are given by private businesses or charities.

The Scottish Government is doing a consultation on making Freedom of Information law apply to these services. We think it is important for people to have access to information about all public services.

Your answers will help us decide if care home and care at home services should be covered by the Freedom of Information laws.

Local authorities and NHS Boards are already covered by Freedom of Information laws. This means they have to respond when people ask for information about their services.

The Government knows the challenges faced by many care services. This consultation wants to find the best way to make information available about care services, without making too much more work for them.