Our Guide to Information
The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (the Act) requires Scottish public authorities to produce and maintain a publication scheme. Authorities are under a legal obligation to:
- Publish the classes of information that they make routinely available
- Tell the public how to access the information and what it might cost.
The Scottish Information Commissioner adopted the Model Publication Scheme. If you prefer a copy to be provided to you in another format contact us on 01334 464610.
The purpose of this Guide to Information is to:
- Allow the public to see what information is available (and what is not available) in relation to each class
- State what charges may be applied
- Explain how to find the information easily
- Provide contact details for enquiries and to get help with accessing the information
- Explain how to request information we hold that has not been published
More about our Guide to Information
The Guide is split into the following sections:
The information we publish through this scheme is, wherever possible, available on our website. We offer alternative arrangements for people who do not want to, or cannot, access the information online or by inspection at our premises. For example, we can usually arrange to send information to you in paper copy (although there may be a charge for this - see charges below).
We will publish the information we hold that falls within the classes of information below. If a document contains information that is exempt under Scotland's freedom of information laws (for example sensitive personal information or a trade secret), we will remove or 'black out' the information before publication and explain why.
Where the Scottish Information Commissioner holds the copyright in its published information, the information may be copied or reproduced without formal permission, provided that:
- It is copied or reproduced accurately
- It is not used in a misleading context
- The source of the material is identified
Where the Scottish Information Commissioner does not hold the copyright in information we publish, we will make this clear.
This section explains when we may make a charge for our publications and how any charge will be calculated. There is no charge to view information on our website or at our premises.
We may charge for providing information to you, but we will charge you no more than it actually costs us to do so. We will always tell you what the cost is before providing the information to you.
Our photocopying charge per side of paper is shown below:
- Black and White photocopying = 10p per A4 page
- Colour photocopying = 20p per A4 page
Information provided on CD-Rom will be charged at 50p per computer disc.
Postage costs will be recharged at the rate we paid to send the information to you. Our charge is for sending info by Royal Mail First Class.
When providing copies of pre-printed publications, we will charge no more than the cost per copy, pro rata, of the total print run.
We do not pass on any other costs to you in relation to our published information.
Please note that this charging schedule does not apply to our commercial publications (see Class 8 below). These items are offered for sale through retail outlets such as book shops, academic journal websites or museum shops and their price reflects a 'market value' which may include the cost of production.
You can contact us for assistance with any aspect of this publication scheme:
The Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Tel: 01334 464610
Fax: 01334 464611
Email: enquiries@foi.scot
We will also advise you how to ask for information that we do not publish or how to complain if you are dissatisfied with any aspect of the publication scheme.
If you wish to make a request for information not contained in the publication scheme, contact us using the details above.
BSL users can contact us using the ContactSCOTLAND-BSL service.
The classes of information that we publish
We publish information that we hold within the following classes. Once information is published under a class we will continue to make it available for the current and previous two financial years.
Where information has been updated or superseded, only the current version will be available. If you would like to see previous versions, you may make a request to us for that information.
Information about the authority, who we are, where to find us, how to contact us, how we are managed and our external relations.
Our enabling legislation
- The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
- Overview of the EIRs
- Description of the INSPIRE regulations
About us
Governance and accountability
- Governance Arrangements
- Governance and Quality Assurance Reporting Arrangements
- Governance and Finance Overview
- Accountable Officer Memorandum
- Internal Audit Policy
- Internal Audit Plan 2023-24 to 2025-26
- Risk Management Policy 2024-25
- Scheme Of Delegation
- The Advisory Audit Board
- Equality Policy
- Relationship between the Commissioner and the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
- Managing the organisation - including minutes of management team meetings
- Register of Interests Policy and Guidance
- Statutory Reporting
- Complaints Handling Procedure
- Anti-fraud Policy
External relations/working with others
- Strategic agreements with other bodies
- Complain about us
- Contact us / where to find us
- Contact the media team
- Unacceptable Actions Policy
Keeping others informed
Information about our work, our strategy and policies for delivering functions and services and information for our service users.
- About the Scottish Information Commissioner's functions and their statutory basis
- Strategic and Operational Plans
- British Sign Language Plan 2018-2023
- The Commissioner's Enforcement Policy
- The Commissioner's Intervention Procedures
- The Commissioner's Intervention Activity
- Responding to Information Requests: Guidance and Procedures
- The Commissioner's Investigations Handbook
- The Commissioner's Enquiries Guidance and Procedures
- Responding to Speaking Engagement Requests
- The Commissioner's Communication and Engagement Framework: Our strategic approach: 2021-2024
- The Commissioner's Policy on seeking legal expenses
- SIC Twitter account: conventions, procedures and protocols
- Statement of Public Task under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015
- Procedures and guidance on how to respond to Re-use requests and complaints
- Statement and guidance on making Re-use requests and complaints
- Re-use request form
- Publication Scheme Notification: Internal management procedures
- Accessibility Statement
Information on rights, and how to make requests, reviews and appeals
- Overview of your rights
- Your Right to Know - A Guide to FOI in Scotland
- Your Right to Know - A Guide to FOI in Scotland in community languages
- Who is covered by FOI legislation in Scotland?
- Making an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner
- FOI resources for journalists including training presentation
- Accessing personal information
Guidance for public authorities
- Common questions public authorities ask us
- Briefings on legislation
- The Commissioner's Investigations: A Guide for Scottish Public Authorities
- Self-Assessment Toolkits
- Learning And Development
- Guidance and resources for publication schemes
- Submitting FOI and EIR statistics to the Commissioner
- Handling requests under the EIRs
- Setting up your FOI function: Guidance for Scottish public authorities new to FOI
- Setting up your FOI function: Checklist for Scottish public authorities new to FOI
Downloadable resources
Information about the decisions we take, how we make decisions and how we involve others.
- Governance and Finance Overview
- Research reports which inform policy decisions
- Minutes of Senior Management Team meetings
Enforcing Scotland's FOI legislation
Information about our strategy for, and management of, financial resources (in sufficient detail to explain how we plan to spend public money and what has actually been spent).
- How the Commissioner is funded
- Budgets and expenditure
- Commissioner / other staff expenses
- Financial reporting - including annual statements of expenditure as required by the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010
- Annual reports and audited accounts
- Cost of Court Appeals
- Travel & Expenses Policy
- Finance Handbook
- Fixed Assets Policy
Information about how we manage the human, physical and information resources of the authority.
- Workforce Planning Strategy
- Human Resources Strategy
- Employee Handbook
- Menopause Policy
- Menopause Guidance for Managers
- COVID-19 Absences (ill health, staying at home, caring responsibilities, vaccinations, foreign travel)
- Recruitment and Selection Policy
- Recruitment and Selection Procedures
- References Policy and Procedure
- Model Induction Manual
- Data Protection Policy and Handbook
- Privacy notice: investigations for law enforcement purposes
- Information and Records Management Policy
- File Plan and Retention Schedule
- Information and Records Management Handbook
- Records Management Plan
- The Keeper of the Records of Scotland - PRSA Assessment and Agreement Report
- Key Document Handbook
- Information Asset Register
- Our publication scheme
- Publication Scheme Handbook
- Health and Safety Policy and Handbook
- Environmental Policy
- Style and Formatting Guide
- Visual Identity Guidelines
- Information Strategy
- Business Continuity Policy
- Data Protection Safeguards Policy
- Whistleblowing Policy
Information about how we procure goods and services, and our contracts with external providers.
Information about how the authority performs as an organisation, and how well it delivers its functions and services.
- Annual reports and audited accounts
- Performance and Quality Framework
- Operational Performance
- Quality Assurance Criteria and Procedures: Enquiries
- Report on Information Requests to the Scottish Information Commissioner
- Report on Subject Access Requests to the Scottish Information Commissioner
- Biodiversity Duty Reports
- Public Service Reform Act 2010 definition of public relations - guidance note
Sickness and absence statistics - not currently available online - contact us on the details above.
Information packaged and made available for sale on a commercial basis and sold at market value through a retail outlet e.g, bookshop, museum or research journal.
We do not hold or publish any information under this class.
Open data made available by the authority as described by the Scottish Government's Open Data Resource Pack and available under an open licence.
