The Freedom of Information (Designation as Public Authorities) Order 2011

Made31st October 2011

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2)

The Secretary of State makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 5(1)(a) and (2) and 7(5) of the Freedom of Information Act 20001.

In accordance with section 5(3) of that Act2 the Secretary of State has consulted representatives of persons to whom the Order relates.

A draft of this Order was laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament in accordance with section 82(2)(a) of that Act.

Citation and commencement1

1

This Order may be cited as the Freedom of Information (Designation as Public Authorities) Order 2011.

2

This Order comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

Persons designated as Public Authorities2

The persons listed in column 1 of the Schedule are designated as public authorities under section 5(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 with respect to the function or functions specified in column 2.

Signed by the authority of the Secretary of State

McNallyMinister of StateMinistry of Justice31st October 2011

SCHEDULEPersons designated as Public Authorities

Article 2

Column 1	Column 2
The Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland3	a The provision of leadership to the Police Service of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. b The provision of contributions to the development and improvement of the Police Service of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. c The provision of a professional view on policing matters. d The co-ordination of the strategic policing response, in times of national need, on behalf of all chief police officers. e The promotion and development of high standards of professional knowledge and performance amongst its members. f The provision of member services. g The promotion of the Association.
The Financial Ombudsman Service Limited4	The administration of an ombudsman scheme in accordance with Part 16 of, and Schedule 17 to, the Financial Services and Markets Act 20005.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service6	The provision and maintenance of a central applications and admissions service in relation to: a an institution listed in paragraphs 53(1)(a) to (e) and 55(1)(a) and (b) of Part 4 of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 20007; b an institution listed in Part 5 of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 20028; c the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise.

Column 1

Column 2

The Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland3

a
The provision of leadership to the Police Service of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
b
The provision of contributions to the development and improvement of the Police Service of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
c
The provision of a professional view on policing matters.
d
The co-ordination of the strategic policing response, in times of national need, on behalf of all chief police officers.
e
The promotion and development of high standards of professional knowledge and performance amongst its members.
f
The provision of member services.
g
The promotion of the Association.

The Financial Ombudsman Service Limited4

The administration of an ombudsman scheme in accordance with Part 16 of, and Schedule 17 to, the Financial Services and Markets Act 20005.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service6

The provision and maintenance of a central applications and admissions service in relation to:

a
an institution listed in paragraphs 53(1)(a) to (e) and 55(1)(a) and (b) of Part 4 of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 20007;
b
an institution listed in Part 5 of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 20028;
c
the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

The obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the Act”) apply to public authorities. For the purposes of the Act, a “public authority” means a body or office which is listed in Schedule 1 to the Act or designated by an order under section 5 of the Act, or a publicly-owned company as defined by section 6 of the Act. Additional bodies or offices may be added to Schedule 1 by an order under section 4(1) of the Act provided that the conditions in section 4(2) and (3) are satisfied.

Section 5(1)(a) of the Act provides that the Secretary of State may by order designate as a public authority for the purposes of the Act any person who is neither listed in Schedule 1 nor capable of being added to that Schedule by an order under section 4(1), but who appears to the Secretary of State to exercise functions of a public nature. By section 5(2), such an order may designate a specified person or office or persons or offices falling within a specified description.

Section 7(5) of the Act provides that such an order must specify the functions of the public authority designated by the order with respect to which the designation is to have effect, and limits the application of the Act to information held by the authority relating to the specified functions.

This Order designates as public authorities The Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, The Financial Ombudsman Service Limited and the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (article 2 and column 1 of the Schedule). The functions with respect to which the designation takes effect are listed in column 2 of the Schedule.