Data Protection and Freedom of Information
The Difference Between FOI and DPA (Data Protection Act)
If you wish to obtain information about yourself,
then the Data Protection Act 1998 will apply and you should make a
subject Access Request.
If the information that you are looking for is
not about you, but in relation to a public authority, then the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 will apply.
The Act gives you a general right of access to
‘recorded’ information held by public authorities.