Introduction

Freedom of Information is most commonly known as FOI. The Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to access recorded information held by public sector organisations. It is intended to help build a better understanding of how we carry out our duties, why we make the decisions we do and how public money is spent.

Access to information

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) 2004 give you the right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities. The aim is to promote openness and transparency. We have a Publication Scheme which outlines the information we publish and how you can obtain it.

Your right to know

If you make a request to us in writing (including email) you have the right to be told whether we have that information and a right to see it, though there are some types of information that are exempt from this. Information that we routinely publish is listed in the Information Commissioner's Model Publication Scheme.