Explain and analyze three ways in which
rights are protected in the UK(9 marks) Plan
AO1: 6 marks → AO1= knowledge and understanding (describe)
AO2: 3 marks → AO2= analysis (parallels, connections, similarities
and differences)
Paragraph 1- The Freedom of Information Act 2000
● Summary= ensured political transparency by allowing citizens to access
any non-security related information held by public institutions
● Passed to improve transparency in public bodies and focus on promoting
transparency and accountability in public authorities
● The relevance of Freedom of Information Act works to protect rights and
freedoms by providing transparency on the workings of public bodies and
more accountability on the Government – theoretically improving civil
liberties in the UK.
● Example;
○ The MP’s expenses scandal came to light in 2009 through a freedom
of information request
● How does it protect the rights:
○ It grants individuals the right to access information held by public
authorities allowing them to scrutinize the decision-making
processes of government bodies
○ The act enables citizens to hold the government to account and
ensures that public authorities are open and transparent in their
actions
● How does it not protect the rights:
○ In order to protect sensitive info the act lists 24 exemptions to the
‘general right of access’ with nine of the exemptions being entirely or
partially absolute the other 15 areas are qualified and public bodies
must consider the ‘public interest balance’ which means that they
must consider whether the public interest in releasing the material
outweighs the public interest withholding it
Paragraph 2- The Equality Act 2010
● Summary= consolidated and codified all anti-discriminatory measures into
one document
rights are protected in the UK(9 marks) Plan
AO1: 6 marks → AO1= knowledge and understanding (describe)
AO2: 3 marks → AO2= analysis (parallels, connections, similarities
and differences)
Paragraph 1- The Freedom of Information Act 2000
● Summary= ensured political transparency by allowing citizens to access
any non-security related information held by public institutions
● Passed to improve transparency in public bodies and focus on promoting
transparency and accountability in public authorities
● The relevance of Freedom of Information Act works to protect rights and
freedoms by providing transparency on the workings of public bodies and
more accountability on the Government – theoretically improving civil
liberties in the UK.
● Example;
○ The MP’s expenses scandal came to light in 2009 through a freedom
of information request
● How does it protect the rights:
○ It grants individuals the right to access information held by public
authorities allowing them to scrutinize the decision-making
processes of government bodies
○ The act enables citizens to hold the government to account and
ensures that public authorities are open and transparent in their
actions
● How does it not protect the rights:
○ In order to protect sensitive info the act lists 24 exemptions to the
‘general right of access’ with nine of the exemptions being entirely or
partially absolute the other 15 areas are qualified and public bodies
must consider the ‘public interest balance’ which means that they
must consider whether the public interest in releasing the material
outweighs the public interest withholding it
Paragraph 2- The Equality Act 2010
● Summary= consolidated and codified all anti-discriminatory measures into
one document
