Staff Guidance on the Freedom of Information Act

The following is guidance taken from the Information Commissioner’s Office Guide to Freedom of Information available on the Information Commissioner’s website.

The following is general guidance relating to the Freedom of Information Act. Members of staff should not attempt to respond to requests or apply exemptions without first contacting the Freedom of Information Unit.

In many cases responses to Freedom of Information requests will be straightforward and ‘business as usual’, but the refusal of requests, and in particular the application of exemptions require specific knowledge of the Act.