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rights and legal support</a> </li> </ol> </div> </div> <main role="main" id="content" class="guide" lang="en"> <span id="Top"></span> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <div class="gem-c-title govuk-!-margin-top-8 govuk-!-margin-bottom-8"> <h1 class="gem-c-title__text govuk-heading-xl"> How to make a freedom of information (FOI) request </h1> </div> <a class="gem-c-skip-link govuk-skip-link govuk-!-display-none-print" data-module="govuk-skip-link" href="#guide-contents">Skip to contents of guide</a> <aside class="part-navigation-container" role="complementary"> <nav data-module="gem-track-click ga4-link-tracker" aria-label="Pages in this guide" class="gem-c-contents-list" role="navigation"> <h2 class="gem-c-contents-list__title"> Contents </h2> <ol class="gem-c-contents-list__list"> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed gem-c-contents-list__list-item--active" aria-current="true"> <span aria-hidden="true"></span> Overview </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <span aria-hidden="true"></span> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 2" data-track-label="/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/organisations-you-can-ask-for-information" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Organisations you can ask for information"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","section":"Contents","type":"contents list","index_total":4,"index_link":2}" href="/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/organisations-you-can-ask-for-information">Organisations you can ask for information</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <span aria-hidden="true"></span> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 3" 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href="/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/if-your-request-is-turned-down">If your request is turned down</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </aside> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds govuk-!-margin-top-6" id="guide-contents"> <h1 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-l govuk-!-margin-bottom-6"> Overview </h1> <div class="gem-c-govspeak govuk-govspeak direction-ltr disable-youtube" data-module="govspeak"> <p>You have the right to ask to see recorded information held by <a href="/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/organisations-you-can-ask-for-information">public authorities</a>.</p> <p>The Freedom of Information Act (<abbr title="Freedom of Information Act">FOIA</abbr>) and Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (<abbr title="Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act">FOISA</abbr>) give you the right to see information.</p> <p>If you ask for environmental information, your request will be handled under the Environmental Regulations (<abbr title="Environmental Information Regulations">EIRs</abbr>) or Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations (<abbr title="Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations">EISRs</abbr>).</p> <p>Environmental information includes things like carbon emissions or the environment’s effect on human health.</p> <div role="note" aria-label="Information" class="application-notice info-notice"> <p>You do not need to tell the organisation which law or regulations you’re making your request under.</p> </div> <h2 id="personal-information">Personal information</h2> <p>There is a <a href="/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/data-protection/find-out-what-data-an-organisation-has-about-you">different way to make a request</a> if you want information that an organisation holds about you. 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make a freedom of information (FOI) request", "datePublished": "2011-10-19T21:01:23Z", "dateModified": "2017-04-05T13:01:28Z", "text": "How to make a request from public bodies and organisations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), how much it costs and how long it takes", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-b15a4d254746d1642b8187217576d1e8fe50b51352d352fda13eee55d3c1c80a.png" } }, "image": [ "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-1x1-c3d38c0d4fc00005df38a71e1db7097276681d6917bca58f0dc8336a252e1bb3.png", "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-4x3-edc38c137a14ecfc3fc83f404090e20dab806dad345c96a1df6a163ee2d1e3aa.png", "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-16x9-5dc2d0ea1eb72cd94e66db210ef41b22ce364e7ed09d63a3acc28fda09e27864.png" ], "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Government Digital Service", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-digital-service" }, "about": [ { "@context": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/crime-justice-and-law/rights" } ], "headLine": "How to make a freedom of information (FOI) request", "description": "How to make a request from public bodies and organisations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), how much it costs and how long it takes", "articleBody": "\u003cp\u003eYou have the right to ask to see recorded information held by \u003ca href=\"/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/organisations-you-can-ask-for-information\"\u003epublic authorities\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Freedom of Information Act (\u003cabbr title=\"Freedom of Information Act\"\u003eFOIA\u003c/abbr\u003e) and Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (\u003cabbr title=\"Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act\"\u003eFOISA\u003c/abbr\u003e) give you the right to see information.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you ask for environmental information, your request will be handled under the Environmental Regulations (\u003cabbr title=\"Environmental Information Regulations\"\u003eEIRs\u003c/abbr\u003e) or Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations (\u003cabbr title=\"Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations\"\u003eEISRs\u003c/abbr\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEnvironmental information includes things like carbon emissions or the environment’s effect on human health.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou do not need to tell the organisation which law or regulations you’re making your request under.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"personal-information\"\u003ePersonal information\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is a \u003ca href=\"/data-protection/find-out-what-data-an-organisation-has-about-you\"\u003edifferent way to make a request\u003c/a\u003e if you want information that an organisation holds about you. This includes things like your health records or credit reference files.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n" } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/http://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "name": "Home", "@id": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "name": "Crime, justice and the law", "@id": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/browse/justice" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "name": "Your rights and legal support", "@id": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/browse/justice/your-rights-legal-support" } } ] } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/http://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "headline": "How to make a freedom of information (FOI) request", "description": "How to make a request from public bodies and organisations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), how much it costs and how long it takes", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-b15a4d254746d1642b8187217576d1e8fe50b51352d352fda13eee55d3c1c80a.png" } }, "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Overview", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request", "text": "<p>You have the right to ask to see recorded information held by <a href=\"/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/organisations-you-can-ask-for-information\">public authorities</a>.</p>\n\n<p>The Freedom of Information Act (<abbr title=\"Freedom of Information Act\">FOIA</abbr>) and Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (<abbr title=\"Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act\">FOISA</abbr>) give you the right to see information.</p>\n\n<p>If you ask for environmental information, your request will be handled under the Environmental Regulations (<abbr title=\"Environmental Information Regulations\">EIRs</abbr>) or Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations (<abbr title=\"Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations\">EISRs</abbr>).</p>\n\n<p>Environmental information includes things like carbon emissions or the environment’s effect on human health.</p>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\">\n<p>You do not need to tell the organisation which law or regulations you’re making your request under.</p>\n</div>\n\n<h2 id=\"personal-information\">Personal information</h2>\n<p>There is a <a href=\"/data-protection/find-out-what-data-an-organisation-has-about-you\">different way to make a request</a> if you want information that an organisation holds about you. This includes things like your health records or credit reference files.</p>\n\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Organisations you can ask for information", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/organisations-you-can-ask-for-information", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/organisations-you-can-ask-for-information", "text": "<p>You can request information from some public authorities, such as:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li><a href=\"/government/organisations\">government departments, devolved administrations, other public bodies and committees</a></li>\n <li><a href=\"/find-your-local-council\">local councils</a></li>\n <li>schools, colleges and universities</li>\n <li>the NHS - including hospitals, GPs, dentists, pharmacists and opticians</li>\n <li>publicly owned companies</li>\n <li>publicly funded museums, galleries and theatres</li>\n <li>\n<a rel=\"external\" href=\"https://www.police.uk/pu/services-information/freedom-of-information-foi/\">the police</a> and fire services</li>\n <li><a rel=\"external\" href=\"https://www.housingregulator.gov.scot/register-of-social-landlords/\">registered social landlords in Scotland</a></li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>You can make an environmental information request to private or public companies that have public responsibilities - like water companies.</p>\n\n<p>If you’re not sure if the organisation is one you can make a request to, check with the information commissioner for:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>Scottish public authorities - you can <a rel=\"external\" href=\"http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/authorities\">search on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website</a>\n</li>\n <li>England, Wales or Northern Ireland and organisations that cover the whole of the UK - contact the Information Commissioner’s Office</li>\n</ul>\n\n<div class=\"contact\">\n<p>Information Commissioner’s Office <br>\nTelephone: 0303 123 1113 <br>\nWelsh language: 0330 414 6421 <br>\nTextphone: 01625 532692 <br>\nMonday to Friday, 9am to 5pm <br>\n<a href=\"/call-charges\">Find out about call charges</a></p>\n</div>\n\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How to make an FOI request", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/how-to-make-an-foi-request", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/how-to-make-an-foi-request", "text": "<p>You must make a Freedom of Information (<abbr title=\"Freedom of Information\">FOI</abbr>) request in writing. You can do it by:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>letter</li>\n <li>email</li>\n <li>social media</li>\n <li>online form - check the organisation’s website or the <a href=\"/government/organisations\">government department’s</a> page to see if they have an online form</li>\n <li>fax</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>If you cannot make your request in writing because of a disability, contact the public authority. They should help you to make the request another way - for example over the phone.</p>\n\n<p>You can ask for environmental information in writing, in person or by phone.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"before-you-make-a-request\">Before you make a request</h2>\n<p>You might not need to make a Freedom of Information (<abbr title=\"Freedom of Information\">FOI</abbr>) request if the organisation has:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>already published the information</li>\n <li>previously responded to an <abbr title=\"Freedom of Information\">FOI</abbr> request</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>Check their website for responses to previous <abbr title=\"Freedom of Information\">FOI</abbr> requests. This is sometimes known as a ‘disclosure log’. You can <a href=\"/government/publications?keywords=&publication_filter_option=foi-releases&topics%5B%5D=all&departments\">search for published responses to <abbr title=\"Freedom of Information\">FOI</abbr> requests</a> from government departments, agencies and arms length bodies.</p>\n\n<p>You can also email or phone the organisation to ask if they’ve already published the information or responded to an <abbr title=\"Freedom of Information\">FOI</abbr> request.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"what-to-include\">What to include</h2>\n\n<p>You should give:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>your name (not needed if you’re asking for environmental information)</li>\n <li>a contact postal or email address</li>\n <li>a detailed description of the information you want - for example, you might want all information held on a subject, or just a summary</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>You can ask for information in a particular format, such as:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>paper or electronic copies of information</li>\n <li>audio format</li>\n <li>large print</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h2 id=\"when-youll-get-a-response\">When you’ll get a response</h2>\n<p>The organisation should send you the information within 20 working days of receiving your request. Some schools are allowed more time during school holidays.</p>\n\n<p>In Scotland, you should allow 6 extra days if you send your request by post.</p>\n\n<p>The organisation will tell you when to expect the information if they need more time.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"when-your-information-will-be-shared\">When your information will be shared</h2>\n\n<p>If you’ve sent an <abbr title=\"Freedom of Information\">FOI</abbr> request to several government departments, they may share your name and request between them. This is to help deal with your enquiry more effectively.</p>\n\n<p>No other details will be shared and your information will not be used for any other purpose.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"costs\">Costs</h2>\n<p>Most requests are free but you might be asked to pay a small amount for photocopies or postage. The organisation will tell you if you have to pay anything.</p>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\">\n<p><a href=\"/topic/intellectual-property/copyright\">Check the copyright status</a> of information you receive if you plan to reproduce it.</p>\n</div>\n\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "If your request is turned down", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/if-your-request-is-turned-down", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240426093058/https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/if-your-request-is-turned-down", "text": "<p>Some sensitive information is not available to members of the public. If this applies, an organisation must tell you why they cannot give you some or all of the information you requested.</p>\n\n<p>They might ask you to be more specific so they can provide just the information you need.</p>\n\n<p>An organisation can also refuse your Freedom of Information (<abbr title=\"Freedom of Information\">FOI</abbr>) request if getting information will cost more than £450, or £600 if the organisation is:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>a government department, Parliament or part of the armed forces</li>\n <li>the Northern Ireland Assembly or the Welsh Assembly</li>\n <li>based in Scotland</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>An organisation can refuse your request for environmental information, if they think the cost of getting the information is too high.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"reviews-and-complaints\">Reviews and complaints</h2>\n<p>If an organisation does not provide you with the information you requested, you should first ask them to review their decision.</p>\n\n<p>If you’re not satisfied with the organisation’s response, you can complain or appeal to the information commissioner for:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>England, Wales or Northern Ireland and organisations that cover the whole of the UK - <a rel=\"external\" href=\"https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/\">complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office</a>\n</li>\n <li>Scottish public authorities - <a rel=\"external\" href=\"http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/YourRights/Unhappywiththeresponse/AppealingtoCommissioner.aspx\">make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner</a>\n</li>\n</ul>\n\n" } } ] } </script> </body> </html>

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