Official Information Act 1982

Part 3 Publication of, and access to, certain documents and information

20 Publication setting out functions of public service agencies and organisations

(1)

The Ministry of Justice shall cause to be published, not later than the end of the year 1989, a publication that includes in respect of each public service agency and each organisation,—

(a)

a description of its structure, functions, and responsibilities including those of any of its statutory officers or advisory committees; and

(b)

a general description of the categories of documents held by it; and

(c)

a description of all manuals, and similar types of documents which contain policies, principles, rules, or guidelines in accordance with which decisions or recommendations are made in respect of any person or body of persons in his or her or its personal capacity; and

(d)

a statement of any information that needs to be available to members of the public who wish to obtain official information from the public service agency or organisation, which statement shall include particulars of the officer or officers to whom requests for official information or particular classes of information should be sent.

(2)

The Ministry of Justice shall, at intervals of not more than 2 years, bring the material contained in the publication published under subsection (1) up to date either by publishing a new edition of that publication or by publishing supplementary material.

(2A)

In complying with subsection (2), the Ministry of Justice may publish a new edition or supplementary material on an Internet website and in an electronic form that is publicly accessible (at all reasonable times), so long as the Ministry also publishes that edition or material in any other manner and form that is necessary in the light of the need specified in subsection (4).

(3)

Each public service agency and each organisation shall assist the Ministry of Justice to comply with subsections (1) and (2) and shall supply to the Ministry of Justice such information as it requires for the purposes of those subsections.

(4)

In complying with subsections (1) and (2), the Ministry of Justice shall have regard, among other things, to the need to assist members of the public to obtain official information and to effectively exercise their rights under this Act.

(5)

Where there is good reason under section 6 or section 7 or section 9(2)(b) for withholding official information, nothing in this section requires the publication of that official information.

Section 20: replaced, on 1 December 1989, by section 3(1) of the Official Information Amendment Act 1989 (1989 No 122).

Section 20 heading: amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

Section 20(1): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

Section 20(1): amended, on 1 October 1995, by section 10(3) of the Department of Justice (Restructuring) Act 1995 (1995 No 39).

Section 20(1)(d): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

Section 20(2): amended, on 1 October 1995, by section 10(3) of the Department of Justice (Restructuring) Act 1995 (1995 No 39).

Section 20(2A): inserted, on 22 October 2003, by section 4 of the Official Information Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 90).

Section 20(3): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

Section 20(3): amended, on 1 October 1995, by section 10(3) of the Department of Justice (Restructuring) Act 1995 (1995 No 39).

Section 20(4): amended, on 1 October 1995, by section 10(3) of the Department of Justice (Restructuring) Act 1995 (1995 No 39).