The Information Management Group (IMG) is the lead department for the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act, and Environmental Information Regulations in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office . We work closely with the Ministry of Justice and other Whitehall Partners to ensure that the FCO implements the Freedom of Information Act in accordance with the spirit and the provisions of the law. We also promote good practice across our global network of departments in the UK and missions overseas.

The appropriate FCO department leads on requests for information, liasing with offices overseas and other relevant departments when necessary. Each FCO department in the UK and British mission overseas has an Open Government Liason Officer (OGLO) to provide local advice. Freedom of Information is monitored centrally by the central expert Information Rights Team (IRT) within IMG.

The central Information Rights Team's role is to:

• encourage FCO departments and overseas missions to proactively publish information
• make sure that all requests received under the three access to information regimes are logged and tracked so that statutory deadlines are met and that the correct handling procedures are followed to comply with the Act.
• maintain a network of Open Government Liaison Officers (OGLO) in each home department and overseas mission to ensure local compliance.
• provide advice and assistance to other FCO departments and overseas missions as necessary on FOI and DPA policy matters and case handling, using a dedicated telephone help-line, advice by email, classroom training, workshops, e-learning and awareness raising presentations
• provide detailed and regularly updated online guidance materials for all FCO staff on the handling of FOI requests
• liase with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Central Clearing House and Cabinet Office on complex, cross-cutting and high profile requests
• Provide FOI statistics to the MOJ Clearing House as required
• respond to all complaints to the Information Commissioners Office and appeals to the Information Tribunal, in consultation with other FCO departments as necessary
• co-ordinate FCO responses to FOI-related requests from other Government Departments
• represent the FCO at all pan-Whitehall FOI practitioner/manager fora
• provide the FCO Board with an annual report on FOI compliance performance and informal quarterly updates on noteworthy cases and changing trends
• promote FOI understanding at all levels in the FCO, reinforcing messages in all available media.