Freedom of Information Act 2000 |  |
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 became law on 30 November 2000. The Act does two main things:
- it gives applicants a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, although there are some procedural and substantive limitations
- it imposes an obligation on public authorities, including the Treasury, to produce and maintain a Publication Scheme approved by the independent Information Commissioner (see below).
Right of access to information
How to apply for information
Making a request
How we will handle requests
Publication Scheme
Disclosures under the Freedom of Information Act
Right of access to information
From 1 January 2005 a right of access under the Act applies to all types of recorded information held by the Department regardless of the date the information was created. The Act does, however, set out some exemptions to this right. Anyone will be able to make a request for information under the right of access. Unless the information falls under one of the specific exemptions in the Act, you will be entitled, on making a request under the right of access to this Department:
- to be informed in writing by the Department whether it holds information of the type you requested and, if that is the case
- to have that information given to you, where possible, in the form you have requested, for example as a copy or summary, or you may ask to inspect the record.
How to apply for information
The Treasury publishes a lot of information on the decisions it makes and the background to those decisions. It is possible that the information you seek may already be published and we suggest that, before making a request, you should check whether we already publish the information you want. You can do this by looking at the Classes of Information in our Publication Scheme.
or by using the Search facility on this Site, which is at the top of the screen.
If you cannot find what you want please write or e-mail to
Correspondence & Enquiry Unit
Freedom of Information Section
2/W1
HM Treasury
1 Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ
The fax number for the Unit is 020 7270 4861
The e-mail address for the section is public.enquiries@hm-treasury.gov.uk
Making a request
In making a request you must
- State your name
- Give an address for correspondence
- Describe as fully as possible the information you are seeking
It would be also be helpful if you were to give a telephone number in case we need to discuss your request with you.
How we will handle requests
The Act sets a time limit of 20 working days for dealing with a request for information. If you are dissatisfied with a decision we have made, or with our handling of a complaint you should write within two months to the Correspondence & Enquiry Unit as above.
The Act also provides for an appeal mechanism allowing you to apply to the Information Commissioner, who is responsible for administering and enforcing the Act (see below), for a decision as to whether the Department dealt with a specified request in accordance with the Act.
The Treasury may charge a fee for processing a Freedom of Information access request. The fee will be calculated in line with the fees regulations published by the Department of Constitutional Affairs. Under the Act, fees may be charged in respect of the time spent efficiently locating or copying records, based on a standard hourly rate. No charges may apply in respect of the time spent by the Department in considering whether information can be released. If a fee is required, the limit of 20 working days will be extended by up to three months until the fee is paid.
Publication Scheme
Under section 19 of the Act all public authorities including government departments such as the Treasury are required to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme. The Publication Scheme must specify:
- the classes of information which the Department publishes or intends to publish;
- the manner in which the information is or is intended to be published; and
- whether the material is or is intended to be made available to the public free of charge or on payment of a fee.
The purpose of the Publication Scheme is to identify classes of information, which are (or will be) published so that the information is readily available to the public, i.e. without the need for a request to be made under the Act, and to inform the public of the extent of material that is available.
The Publication Scheme lists the classes of information which are included, indicating where appropriate whether some information may be exempt, how the information is or will be published, and whether a charge will be made for providing it.
Information about HM Treasury’s publication scheme can be found here.
The Treasury’s supports the Scheme by listing the most recent information the department has published.