20.This Part:
provides for a power to make provision relating to environmental information;
provides for a power to repeal or amend existing statutory bars to disclosure;
provides for disclosure of information between the Commissioner and specified ombudsmen.
creates an offence of altering etc. records with intent to frustrate a right of access;
saves existing powers of public authorities to disclose information;
makes provision in respect of defamation;
prevents the extension of the Act to the Scottish Parliament and certain devolved bodies;
deals with the application of the Act to government departments and to Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly;
defines the way in which orders or regulations can be made under the Act;
defines various terms used in the Act; and
gives effect to repeals of existing legislation in Schedule 8.
21.Part VIII also sets out the commencement provisions for the Act. Those provisions in the Act which do not come into effect on, or at the end of the period of two months following, Royal Assent must be brought into force within the following five years unless brought into effect earlier by order of the Secretary of State; meanwhile, the Secretary of State must make annual reports to Parliament on progress towards full commencement.