Taxpayers are being unreasonably denied access to information about how their money is spent by private companies and external organisations, campaigners are to tell MSPs.
The Campaign for Freedom of Information (CFoIS) will urge the Scottish Government to widen public access to information held by private contractors, large volutary organisations, housing associations and arms-length organisations.
If ministers refuse to heed their call, Holyrood's Finance Committee should put forward their own amendments to the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill.
Speaking ahead of the committee meeting, Carole Ewart, co-convener of the CFoIS, said: "In Scotland we should focus on whether people's right to know is as effective in 2012 as it was in 2002 when the law was passed, and 2005 when it came into force.
"Clearly the answer is No. Private companies and other third-party bodies are increasingly being used by the public sector to deliver public services.
"There are over 130 arms-length organisations in Scotland today. If these bodies are not covered by Freedom of Information (FoI) law, then we are all effectively debarred from asking them how they spend our money."
CFoIS said the Scottish Information Commissioner has argued strongly for extended coverage and commissioned an opinion poll in 2011 that showed 83% of people support extending FoI coverage to private companies who build and maintain schools and hospitals, and 82% support extension to housing associations.
They said the previous government began to introduce extended coverage in the previous parliament, but allegedly abandoned it when the groups to be covered objected. In addition, the CFoIS is asking the committee to reject a suggested new clause.
The Government want to introduce a new absolute exemption on communications with the monarch or her heirs.
Ms Ewart said: "This straightforward lift of Westminster legislation sends entirely the wrong message about the Government's transparency, and would create a further set of anomalies. It should be rejected."
