Resources and publications
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Search our guides, case notes, opinions, reports and other information. Our resources and publications can also be searched by date and other options.
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More information about the resource categories on this page
Guides
Commonly used guides include:
- The OIA for Ministers and agencies
- The LGOIMA for local government agencies
- Making official information requests: a guide for requesters
Detailed guidance on the official information legislation and aspects of good administrative practice.
We also have guidance on disability rights and protected disclosures.
Case notes and opinions
Case notes are a short case summary, often demonstrating an aspect of a case.
An Ombudsman's Opinion is published where there is public interest in showing the full details of a case.
Reports
Reports include OPCAT, disability rights, official information practice and systemic investigation.
Outreach
Contains our media releases, newsletters, pamphlets, speeches and fact sheets. Fact sheets are published in multiple language and accessible formats.
Corporate documents
This includes our annual reports and strategic intentions.
Projects, reference and data
This includes our official information complaints data, updates on investigations and other projects, and submissions by the Ombudsman.
View all projects, reference and data
Template letters and work sheets
These template letters and work sheets can be used by agencies to help respond to official information requests.
1211 Resources Show all
Constitutional conventions: A guide to sections 9(2)(f)(i)-(iii) of the OIA
Official informationThis guide deals with the 'constitutional conventions' withholding ground in section 9(2)(f) of the OIA.Third party consultation work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis work sheet takes you through the process of consulting an external third party on an OIA request.Information not held work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet will help you to decide whether there is a proper basis for refusing a request for official information because the document does not exist / cannot be found or the information is not held.Free and frank opinions: A guide to section 9(2)(g)(i) of the OIA and section 7(2)(f)(i) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis guide deals with the 'free and frank opinions' withholding ground in section 9(2)(g)(i) of the OIA and section 7(2)(f)(i) of the LGOIMA.Work sheet for dealing with OIA requests that involve Ministers
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet takes you through the process of dealing with OIA requests that involve a Minister.The OIA and draft documents: A guide to how the OIA applies to requests for draft documents
Official informationThis guide explains some of the most common reasons why it can sometimes be necessary to withhold draft documents. These reasons relate to the free and frank opinions and confidentiality withholding grounds in the OIA and LGOIMA.Work sheet for dealing with administratively challenging requests
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet takes you through the process of dealing with administratively challenging official information requests.Improper pressure or harassment: A guide to section 9(2)(g)(ii) of the OIA and section 7(2)(f)(ii) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the improper pressure or harassment withholding ground found in section 9(2)(g)(ii) of the OIA and section 7(2)(f)(ii) of the LGOIMA.Public interest work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet takes you through the public interest test in section 9(1) of the OIA / section 7(1) of the LGOIMA.Legal professional privilege: A guide to section 9(2)(h) of the OIA and section 7(2)(g) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the legal professional privilege withholding ground found in section 9(2)(h) of the OIA and section 7(2)(g) of the LGOIMA.Confidential advice to Government work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet will help you to decide whether there is good reason to withhold official information under section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the OIA, in order to maintain the constitutional convention protecting the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers and officials.Free and frank opinions work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet will help you to decide whether there is good reason to withhold official information in order to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions.Negotiations: A guide to section 9(2)(j) of the OIA and section 7(2)(i) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the negotiations withholding ground found in section 9(2)(j) of the OIA and section 7(2)(i) of the LGOIMA.Improper gain or advantage: A guide to section 9(2)(k) of the OIA and section 7(2)(j) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the improper gain or advantage withholding ground found in section 9(2)(k) of the OIA and section 7(2)(j) of the LGOIMA.Contrary to law and contempt of court or the House: A guide to section 18(c) of the OIA and section 17(c) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to section 18(c) of the OIA / section 17(c) of the LGOIMA, which enables an official information request to be refused where release would be contrary to an enactment or constitute contempt of court or the House of Representatives.Publicly available information: A guide to section 18(d) of the OIA and section 17(d) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to section 18(d) of the OIA, which enables a request for official information to be refused if the information is or will soon be publicly available.Substantial collation or research: A guide to section 18(f) of the OIA and section 17(f) of the LGOIMA
Official informationSection 18(f) of the OIA (section 17(f) of the LGOIMA) is one of a number of mechanisms under the Act for dealing with requests for information that are administratively challenging to meet.Ombudsman Quarterly Review Summer 2019
Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)The Summer 2019 edition of the Ombudsman Quarterly Review is here now. Read about: what guidance materials people told us they use from our website; some of the questions we were asked at this year’s select committee hearing; which former staff member was awarded a knighthood.Information not held: A guide to sections 18(e) and (g) of the OIA and sections 17(e) and (g) of the LGOIMA
Official informationAgencies cannot release official information if they do not hold it; and there is no obligation under the official information legislation for them to have to create it.Frivolous, vexatious and trivial: A guide to section 18(h) of the OIA and section 17(h) of the LGOIMA
Official informationUnder section 18(h) of the OIA (17(h) of the LGOIMA) a request can be refused if it is frivolous or vexatious, or the information is trivial.OIA complaints completed July - December 2018
Complaints dataThe Chief Ombudsman publishes data on OIA complaints received against Ministers and agencies on a six-monthly basis.OIA complaints received July - December 2018
Complaints dataThe Chief Ombudsman publishes data on OIA complaints received against Ministers and agencies on a six-monthly basis.Common misconceptions about the OIA and LGOIMA
Official informationThis part of the Ombudsman's Practice Guidelines deals with some common misconceptions in relation to the official information legislation.An Ombudsman's investigation and review under the OIA or LGOIMA
Official informationThis part of the Ombudsman's Practice Guidelines describes the role and functions of an Ombudsman under the OIA and LGOIMA.Guidance for agencies whose decisions are under investigation by the Ombudsman
Official informationThis part of the Ombudsman's Practice Guidelines provides some specific advice for agencies whose decisions are subject to an investigation and review by an Ombudsman under the OIA or LGOIMA.Ombudsman's approach to 'delay complaints'
Official informationThis guide explains the Ombudsman’s approach to complaints about delayed responses to official information requests.Changes to the Ombudsmen Act and official information legislation
Official informationThis is a quick reference guide to changes to the Ombudsmen Act and official information legislation which came into effect on 26 March 2015.Changes to the LGOIMA, including ‘working day’ definition
Official informationChanges to the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA) which came into effect on 21 March 2019 will affect ‘working day’ calculations for LGOIMA. This guidance explains those changes in more detail.The OIA and school boards of trustees
Official informationThis guide sets out the key ‘need to know’ information about the obligations of school boards of trustees under the OIA. It also explains the Ombudsman’s role in relation to complaints about OIA requests.Address information for the purposes of civil court proceedings
Official informationThis guide sets out the Ombudsman’s approach to OIA and LGOIMA requests for address information for the purposes of pursuing civil court proceedings.Chief executive expenses
Official informationThis guide sets out the Ombudsman’s approach to requests for information about state sector Chief Executives’ expenses.The OIA and parliamentary privilege
Official informationA guide on the impact of the Parliamentary Privilege Act and the reasons for withholding parliamentary proceedings.