BBC - Freedom of Information

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" lang="en-GB"> <head profile="http://dublincore.org/documents/dcq-html/"><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/","20090422000327","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1240358607"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>BBC - Freedom of Information - Home page</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/> <meta name="description" content="The homepage to the BBC's Freedom of Information Act website"/> <meta name="keywords" content="FOIA, Freedom of Information Act"/> <link rel="schema.dcterms" href="http://purl.org/dc/terms/"/> <meta name="DCTERMS.created" content="2008-12-01T12:00:00Z"/> <meta name="DCTERMS.modified" content="2008-12-17T15:24+0:00"/>  <link rel="index" href="/a-z/" title="A to Z"/><link rel="help" href="/help/" title="BBC Help"/><link rel="copyright" href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/terms/" title="Terms of Use"/><link rel="icon" href="/web/20090422000327im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"/><meta name="viewport" content="width = 974"/> <script type="text/javascript">if(typeof BBC == "undefined") {var BBC = {}}; BBC.adverts = {setZone: function(){}, configure: function(){}, write: function(){}, show: function(){}}; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20090422000327js_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc.com/script/3/direct_ads.js?v=3.22"></script> <link href="/web/20090422000327cs_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc.com/css/adverts_blq.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/> <script type="text/javascript"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20090422000327cs_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/includes/blq/resources/gvl/r56/style/main.css" type="text/css"/> <style type="text/css" media="screen"> .bbcdotcomAdvertsResetBottom #blq-footlinks{width:550px}.bbcdotcomAdvertsResetBottom #blq-sitelinks{width:230px}#blq-footlinks {width:470px}#blq-sitelinks {width:150px}</style> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090422000327js_/http://wwwimg.bbc.co.uk/glow/cached/gloader.1.3.5.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20090422000327js_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/includes/blq/resources/gvl/r56/script/blq_core.js"></script><script type="text/javascript">blq.panelSrc="/includes/blq/resources/gvl/r56/img/panel.png";blqOnDomReady(function(){blq.addGoTrack('blq-main', {external:true});});</script>  <style type="text/css" media="screen"> @import '/web/20090422000327cs_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/style/styles.css'; </style> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090422000327js_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/glow/gloader.js"></script> </head> <body> <div id="blq-container"><div id="blq-pre-mast" lang="en-GB"><div id="bbccom_leaderboard" class="bbccom_display_none"> <script type="text/javascript">BBC.adverts.write("leaderboard");</script> <div class="bbccom_text" id="bbccom_leaderboard_adlabel">Advertisement</div> </div> <script type="text/javascript">BBC.adverts.show("leaderboard");</script> </div><div id="blq-container-inner" lang="en-GB"><div id="blq-acc" class="blq-rst"><p><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/" id="blq-mast-home" title="Go to the bbc.co.uk homepage"><img src="/web/20090422000327im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/includes/blq/resources/gvl/r56/img/header_blocks.gif" width="107" height="32" alt="British Broadcasting Corporation" id="blq-blocks"/></a></p><p class="blq-hide"><strong><a id="page-top">Accessibility links</a></strong></p><ul id="blq-acc-links"><li id="blq-acc-txt"><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/education/betsie/parser.pl">Text only</a></li><li class="blq-hide"><a href="#blq-content" accesskey="2">Skip to content</a></li><li class="blq-hide"><a href="#blq-local-nav">Skip to local navigation</a></li><li class="blq-hide"><a href="#blq-nav-links">Skip to bbc.co.uk navigation</a></li><li class="blq-hide"><a href="#blq-search">Skip to bbc.co.uk search</a></li><li id="blq-acc-help"><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/help/">Help</a></li><li class="blq-hide"><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/">Accessibility Help</a></li><li class="blq-hide"><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/accesskeys/keys.shtml" accesskey="0">Access keys help</a></li></ul></div><div id="blq-main" class="blq-clearfix"> <div id="top-banner"> <img src="/web/20090422000327im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/images/top_banner.gif" width="974" height="58" alt="Freedom of Information"/><span class="blq-hide">Freedom of Information</span> <div id="blq-local-nav"> <span class="blq-hide">Local Navigation</span> <div id="top_nav">  <ul id="navigation"> <li class="current"> <a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/"><span>Home</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/"><span>About FOI</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/requesting_information/"><span>Requesting Information</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/feedback/"><span>Feedback</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/"><span>Publication Scheme</span></a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="blq-content" class="blq-typ"> <div id="content-top">  <div class="hpAbout"> <p class="welcome"><img src="/web/20090422000327im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/images/welcome_txt.gif" width="143" height="11" alt="Welcome to the BBC"/><span class="blq-hide">Welcome to the BBC</span></p> <h1><img src="/web/20090422000327im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/images/title_txt.gif" width="234" height="110" alt="Freedom of Information Act Website"/><span class="blq-hide">Freedom of Information Act Website</span></h1> <p>As a publicly funded organisation the BBC is fully committed to meeting both the spirit and the letter of the Act.</p> </div> <div id="hpFeatureBox"> <p class="blq-hide">Features</p> <ul class="hpFeatureList"> <li class="hp1 last"> <a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/glossary.shtml"><span>Glossary of FOI terms</span></a> <a class="image" href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/glossary.shtml"><img src="/web/20090422000327im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/images/features/glossary.jpg" width="626" height="170" alt="Get to know the collection of the different FOI terms and their definition"/></a> <div class="blq-solidbg strap"> <p><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/glossary.shtml">Get to know the collection of the different FOI terms and their definition</a></p> </div> </li> <li class="hp2"> <a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/using_this_site.shtml"><span>How to use this site to find information</span></a> <a class="image" href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/using_this_site.shtml"><img src="/web/20090422000327im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/images/features/how_to_use.jpg" width="626" height="170" alt="Avoid getting in a mess by reading our guide to the FOI site"/></a> <div class="blq-solidbg strap"> <p><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/using_this_site.shtml">Avoid getting in a mess by reading our guide to the FOI site</a></p> </div> </li> <li class="hp3 first current"> <a class="current" href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/foi_explained.shtml"><span>What is the Freedom of Information Act</span></a> <a class="image" href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/foi_explained.shtml"><img src="/web/20090422000327im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/images/features/foi_explained.jpg" width="626" height="170" alt="Discover what the Freedom of Information Act is"/></a> <div class="blq-solidbg strap"> <p><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/foi_explained.shtml">Discover what the Freedom of Information Act is</a></p> </div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div id="content-middle">  <div class="hpEduModule"> <p class="blq-hide">Related areas</p> <div class="hp-edu-a"> <h2><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/">About FOI</a></h2> <div class="abt-foi"> <p>We've a wide range of information about the FOI Act and the ways in which the Act covers the BBC.</p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/foi_explained.shtml">The FOI Act explained</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/copyright.shtml">FOI Act copyright</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/help.shtml">Help & Advice</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/foi_explained.shtml">BBC use of the Act</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="hp-edu-b"> <h2><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/">Publication Scheme</a></h2> <p>Information available to you is listed in the Publication Scheme. It's split up into classes to make it easy for you to get what you want.</p> <ul class="left"> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/commitment.shtml">Commitment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/excluded.shtml">Excluded</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/access.shtml">Access</a></li> </ul> <ul class="left"> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/charges.shtml">Charges</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/classes/">Classes</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="hp-edu-c"> <h2><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/classes/disclosure_logs/">Disclosure logs</a></h2> <p>Here you can find previous requests for information to the BBC and our responses.<br/>It's split into the eight sections listed below:</p> <ul class="left"> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/classes/disclosure_logs/employment.shtml">Employment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/classes/disclosure_logs/finance.shtml">Finance</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/classes/disclosure_logs/digital_technology.shtml">Digital & technology</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/classes/disclosure_logs/bbc_organisation.shtml">BBC Organisation</a></li> </ul> <ul class="left"> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/classes/disclosure_logs/foi_act.shtml">FOI Act</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/classes/disclosure_logs/tv_licence.shtml">TV Licence</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/classes/disclosure_logs/bbc_services.shtml">BBC Services</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/classes/disclosure_logs/other.shtml">All other</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="clear"></div> </div>  <div id="related"> <h3>Where next?</h3> <div id="relatedbox"> <div class="rel-a"> <h4>Quick links</h4> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/help.shtml">Help & advice</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/about/foi_explained.shtml">FOI explained</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/classes/disclosure_logs/">Disclosure logs</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="rel-b"> <h4>Popular areas</h4> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/classes/what_how_priorities/annual_reports_accounts.shtml">Annual reports & reviews</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/classes/policies_procedures/equal_opportunities_diversity.shtml">Equal opportunities</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/publication_scheme/classes/how_decisions/executive_board.shtml">Executive Board meetings</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="rel-c"> <h4>Search the FOI website</h4> <form action="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/search/search.shtml" method="get"> <fieldset> <input type="hidden" name="scope" value="foi"/> <label for="foi-search" class="blq-hide">Search the FOI website</label> <input id="foi-search" name="q" onblur="if(this.value==''){this.value='Enter keyword here'}" onfocus="if(this.value=='Enter keyword here'){this.value=''}" value="" type="text"/><input id="foi-search-btn" name="go" value="Search" type="submit"/> </fieldset> </form> </div> <div class="clear"></div> </div> </div> <p class="blq-hide"> <a href="#page-top">Skip to top</a> </p> </div> </div><div id="blq-mast" class="blq-rst"><form method="get" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20090422000327/http://search.bbc.co.uk/search" accept-charset="utf-8"><fieldset><input type="hidden" name="uri" value="/foi/"/><input type="hidden" name="go" value="toolbar"/><label for="blq-search" class="blq-hide">Search term:</label> <input id="blq-search" type="text" name="q" value="" accesskey="4"/><input id="blq-search-btn" type="submit" value="Search"/></fieldset></form><h2 id="blq-nav-btn"><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/a-z/" class="blq-lime">Explore the BBC</a></h2><script type="text/javascript">blq.exploreReady();</script></div><div id="blq-nav" class="blq-lime blq-rst"><div id="blq-nav-links" class="blq-clearfix" lang="en-GB"><div id="blq-nav-links-inner"><p id="blq-home"><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/">Home</a></p><h3 class="blq-hide">Popular links</h3><ul id="blq-pop"><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/apprentice/">The Apprentice</a></li><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/heroes/">Heroes</a></li><li class="blq-last"><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f1/">Formula One</a></li></ul><h3 class="blq-hide">A to F</h3><ol class="blq-nav-sub blq-first"><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/">BBC iPlayer</a></li><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/">CBBC</a></li><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/">CBeebies</a></li><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/">Food</a></li></ol><h3 class="blq-hide">H to L</h3><ol class="blq-nav-sub"><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/">Health & Parenting</a></li><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/">History</a></li><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/learning/">Learning</a></li><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/local/">Local & Nations</a></li></ol><h3 class="blq-hide">M to Sc</h3><ol class="blq-nav-sub"><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/">Music</a></li><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/">News</a></li><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/">Radio</a></li><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/">Science & Nature</a></li></ol><h3 class="blq-hide">Sp to W</h3><ol class="blq-nav-sub"><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/sport/">Sport</a></li><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/">TV</a></li><li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/">Weather</a></li></ol><p id="blq-more"><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/a-z/">A whole lot more <span class="blq-hide">from the BBC</span></a></p></div><div id="blq-nav-foot"><div><p class="blq-hide"><a href="#blq-nav-links-inner">Back to start of navigation</a></p></div></div></div></div><div id="blq-foot" lang="en-GB" class="blq-rst blq-clearfix"><div id="blq-footlinks"><h2 class="blq-hide">Site links</h2><ul id="blq-sitelinks"> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/">BBC Trust</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/">Press Office</a></li></ul><h2 class="blq-hide">BBC links</h2><ul id="blq-bbclinks"> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/">About the BBC</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/help/">BBC Help</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/feedback/">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/">Accessibility Help</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/terms/">Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/jobs/">Jobs</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy/">Privacy & Cookies</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc.com/furtherinformation/">Advertise With Us</a></li></ul></div><div class="blqFooterAdContainer"><div id="bbccom_bottom" class="bbccom_display_none" style="width:468px; text-align:right;"> <script type="text/javascript">BBC.adverts.write("bottom");</script> <div class="bbccom_text" id="bbccom_bottom_adlabel">Advertisement</div> </div> <script type="text/javascript">BBC.adverts.show("bottom");</script> </div><p id="blq-copy"><img src="/web/20090422000327im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/includes/blq/resources/gvl/r56/img/footer_blocks_grey.gif" width="68" height="21" alt="BBC"/> © MMIX</p><p id="blq-disclaim"><a href="/web/20090422000327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/help/web/links/">The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.</a></p></div><div id="blq-obit"><strong>This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.</strong></div></div><script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20090422000327js_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc.com/script/analytics/vs/vs.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090422000327js_/http://js.revsci.net/gateway/gw.js?csid=J08781"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> DM_tag(); </script></div> <script type="text/javascript"> gloader.load( ["glow", "1.1.0", "glow.dom", "glow.events"], { async: true, onLoad: function(glow) { // use glow here var aNodes = glow.dom.get('#hpFeatureBox ul.hpFeatureList').get('> li > a').filter(function(){ return this == glow.dom.get(this).parent().children()[0]}); aNodes.each(function(i) { glow.events.addListener( this, 'click', function () { var current = glow.dom.get(this); glow.dom.get('#hpFeatureBox ul.hpFeatureList').get('> li ').removeClass('current'); current.addClass('current').parent().addClass('current'); return false; } ); }); } } ); </script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

BBC - Freedom of Information - Home page