The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2003

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2003(1).

(2) In this Order—

“the Act” means the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and

“the publication scheme provisions” mean section 19(1) to 19(4) of the Act, insofar as it is not already in force(2).

Commencement on 31st October 2003

2.  The publication scheme provisions shall come into force on 31st October 2003 for the following public authorities—

(a) the public authorities listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Act;

(b) the Distinction and Meritorious Service Awards Committee(3);

(c) Invest Northern Ireland(4); and

(d) The Northern Ireland Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education(5).

Commencement on 29th February 2004

3.  The publication scheme provisions shall come into force on 29th February 2004 for the following public authorities—

(a) the public authorities listed in Part IV of Schedule 1 to the Act, except for those specified in paragraph 52(b)(6);

(b) the public authorities listed in Schedule 1 to this Order; and

(c) any publicly-owned company as defined in section 6 of the Act.

Commencement on 30th June 2004

4.—(1) The publication scheme provisions shall come into force on 30th June 2004 for all public authorities in respect of which those provisions have not been commenced elsewhere, with the exception of—

(a) that public authority listed in paragraph 17 of Schedule 1 to the Act(7); and

(b) the consultative Civic Forum referred to in section 56(4) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998(8).

Lord Filkin

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

Department for Constitutional Affairs

8th October 2003