Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) came into effect on 1 January 2005 and provides a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities. The Act also sets out exemptions to that right and places a number of related obligations on public authorities.

OSCR and Freedom of Information

OSCR is required to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme. The publication scheme lists:

the classes of information which OSCR publishes or intends to publish
the manner in which information within each class is, or is intended to be published
whether the material is, or is intended to be available free of charge or on payment.

Our Publication Scheme has been approved by the Scottish Information Commissioner. We are required to publish the publication scheme and make the information listed in it available.

Making a request for information

You have legal rights to access information under FOISA and a right of appeal if you are dissatisfied with our reponse. These rights apply only to information requests made in writing or another recordable format (verbal requests for environmental information carry similar rights). If you are unhappy with our response to your request you can ask us to review it and if you are still unhappy, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner.