(1)  This Act does not prevent and is not intended to discourage a public authority or a Minister from publishing or providing information (including exempt information), otherwise than as required by this Act.

(2)  Subject to guidelines issued by the Ombudsman under section 49 , public authorities or Ministers may disclose information to the public as –

(a) a required disclosure; or

(b) a routine disclosure; or

(c) an active disclosure; or

(d) an assessed disclosure.

(3)  Assessed disclosure is the method of disclosure of last resort and –

(a) the principal officer of a public authority is to ensure that there are adequate processes in place in the public authority to ensure that there is appropriate active disclosure, routine disclosure or required disclosure of information by the public authority; and

(b) the principal officer of a public authority is to ensure that the processes in place under paragraph (a) comply with the guidelines issued by the Ombudsman under section 49 ; and

(c) the principal officer of a public authority or a Minister may refuse an application made in accordance with section 13 if the information that is the subject of the application –

(i) is otherwise available; or

(ii) will become available, in accordance with a decision that was made before receipt of the application, as a required disclosure or routine disclosure within a period of time specified by the public authority or Minister but not exceeding 12 months from the date of the application.