Freedom of information

Under the FOIA, public authorities such as UCLan are required to have a publication scheme. A publication scheme is a guide that tells people about the broad classes of information which public authorities will routinely make available to the public. It includes information held in any form e.g. on websites, paper files and public registers.

UCLan has adopted the Information Commissioner’s Model Publication Scheme for Higher Education Institutions. The Information Commissioner is an independent regulator who enforces and advises on the FOIA and has produced and approved this scheme. A copy of the Model Publication Scheme for Higher Education Institutions and further information about the Information Commissioner is available via its website www.ico.org.uk.

By adopting the Information Commissioner’s Model Scheme, UCLan has committed to:

• Proactively publish information (including environmental information) which is held by it and contained within each class.
• Provide a means by which the University can make the public aware of the types of information it will make readily available, how they can access that information and whether or not they will have to pay for it.

Review and update the information on a regular basis.

The Model Publication Scheme contains seven ‘classes’ of information. UCLan is committed to making available to the public information it holds which falls within these seven broad classes:

• Who we are and what we do
• What we spend and how we spend it
• What our priorities are and how we are doing
• How we make decisions
• Our policies and procedures
• Lists and registers
• The services we offer

The types of information we make available within each class are provided in our Guide to Information.

The University includes as much information in the publication scheme as it can; however if you would like to request official information held by UCLan which is not routinely made available to the public via the publication scheme, you are entitled to do so.

FOI requests must be made in writing e.g. by email, letter or fax. Address your request to the Information Governance Manager using the contact details at the top of this page.

Once your request is received, it will be recorded and acknowledged. If further information is required before your request can be answered, UCLan will request it from you as soon as possible. You will also be notified of any charges relating to your request e.g. photocopying or postage then asked if you wish to proceed.

UCLan will respond to your request within 20 working days as required under the FOIA. If the information you requested is held by UCLan, it will be provided to you in the form you requested where appropriate, unless some or all of the information is exempt from disclosure. Where information is exempt, you will not be provided with that information; however, you will be provided with an explanation of which exemption from the FOIA applies, why it is in the public interest to maintain the exemption and details of how to appeal the decision. See our Freedom of Information Policy for further information.

We aim to provide as much information as possible on its website, free of charge. Information within the publication scheme can be found via the website search facility using the search terms set out in the Guide to Information or will be made available on request, in cases where it is not practical to include it on the website.

Where information cannot be made available free of charge, we may charge to cover the cost of actual disbursements such as:

• Photocopying.
• Printing.
• Postage and packaging.
• The cost directly incurred as a result of viewing information.

Any charges will be specified within the publication scheme and will be in accordance with the University’s policy. See our Freedom of Information Policy for further information.

For further information about the publication scheme or making FOI requests to UCLan, contact the Information Governance Manager using the details at the top of this page.

If you are not satisfied with the operation of the University’s publication scheme or response to a request for information made under the FOIA, you should contact the Information Governance Manager directly by post or email using the contact details on this page. We will then arrange for an internal review of the response to be carried out. If you are still unsatisfied, you can also complain to the Information Commissioner.

You can contact the Information Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Helpline: +44 (0)1625 545745 or +44 (0)303 1231113
Fax: +44 (0)1625 524510
Web: www.ico.org.uk

The University will maintain the guide to information and the publication scheme and will review them from time to time as required to take account of any updates to the Information Commissioner’s Model Publication Scheme.

If you would like to re-use any of the information on the UCLan website that is contained within the publication scheme, please see the copyright information on this website.