PEOPLE will be given greater access to decisions taken by local authority arm's-length bodies providing cultural and leisure facilities after ministers agreed to extend Freedom of Information (FoI) laws.

Bodies such as Glasgow Life and Edinburgh Leisure will be brought within the scope of legislation later this year.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said there would also be a consultation on widening the legislation to cover other arm's-length external organisation (aleos) established by councils to deliver services on their behalf.

At present, only aleos that are wholly owned by councils are subject to legislation on FoI requests.

Ms Sturgeon announced the move as the Government blocked moves to widen access to information as part of reforms to the Freedom of Information Act approved by MSPs.

Calls from opposition politicians to include the bodies, and also Glasgow Housing Association in the revised legislation, were thrown out. The changes deal with access to historic documents and penalties for bodies which refuse to disclose information.

But Ms Sturgeon said: "The fact we are moving to extend the scope of coverage reflects our commitment to continuously improving Scotland's transparency. This is the first step in a process, which will see us increase FoI coverage to many bodies created by local authorities."

The Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland had called for access to be widened considerably. It wanted companies working on public sector contracts and bodies including the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland and Cosla to be included.

Campaign co-convener Carole Ewart said: "Any step forward is welcome, but the hesitant nature is precisely why this law needs a clear purpose. We must ensure public services remain covered by an enforceable right to know."

Scottish Labour's Iain Gray MSP said: "It is outrageous the SNP stopped Glaswegians from being able to find out what is being done with their money and to their homes by the Glasgow Housing Association."