Freedom of Information Act 2000

​The Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to request any information from any public authority.

It promotes openness and accountability among public sector organisations, so that everyone can understand how authorities make decisions, carry out their duties and spend public money. 

Generally, we've got to comply "promptly" to requests and at the latest within 20 working days. There are some exemptions to this general right of access. These are known as 'absolute exemptions' and 'qualified exemptions'. If a qualified exemption applies, then it is subject to the public interest test. This means we must decide whether in each case it serves the public interests better to withhold or disclose the information requested.

The Freedom of Information Act also states we must maintain a publication scheme which sets out what information we routinely make available, how the information can be accessed, and whether we will make a charge to provide it. The idea of a publication scheme is to try and make sure as much information as possible is freely available and easy to access so you do not need to make a specific request.

If you want to make a request for information under the act it must be in writing, contain a name and address for correspondence, and describe the information you are seeking.