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The House of Commons and the House of Lords are separate public authorities. Requests for access to information should be directed to the relevant House which..."/> <meta name="Date" content="2010-04-21 02:46:09"/> <meta name="language" content="English"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=940"/> <meta name="sections" content="Parliament home page~Site information~Freedom of Information"/> <title> Freedom of Information - UK Parliament </title></head> <body class="main"> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ //load any sub-site JavaScript files (if required) parliamentUK.loadSubSiteJavaScript($(document.body).attr('class')); /*]]>*/ </script> <form name="aspnetForm" method="post" action="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/" id="aspnetForm"> <div> <input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="/wEPDwUKLTc3OTI0NzE5NmRk5bMcK/ttcFbAqzfJYJJ3nNI321o="/> </div> <script 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</ul> </fieldset> <div id="navigation"> <ul id="level-1"> <li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/business/">Parliamentary business</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/">MPs, Lords & offices</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/about/">About Parliament</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/">Get involved</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/">Visiting</a></li> <li class="last"><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/education/">Education</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="breadcrumb"> <div class="inner"> <strong>You are here:</strong> <ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/">Parliament home page</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/">Site information</a></li><li>Freedom of Information</li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="secondary-navigation"> <ul><li class="parent"><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/">Freedom of Information</a><ul><li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/foi-general/">Freedom of Information and Parliament</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/publication-schemes/">Publication Schemes</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/data-protection/">Data Protection</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/request-foi/">Making a Request</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/eir/">Environmental Information Regulations</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/foi-responses/">House of Commons FOI disclosures</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div> <div id="content" class="three-column"> <div id="content-small"> <a name="skipToContent"></a> <h1 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_HeadingOne_ctlHeadingH1_h1Item"> Freedom of Information </h1> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120117034417im_/http://assets4.parliament.uk/iv/main-large/id_1197.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlRichMediaControl_SimpleImage_imgMainImage" alt=""/> <div class="inner">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Members of the public have a right to request access to information held by public authorities. The House of Commons and the House of Lords are separate public authorities. Requests for access to information should be directed to the relevant House which may hold the requested information.</p> </div>   <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlMainBody_wrapperDiv" class="rte"> <p></p><div> <h2>Access to information</h2> <p>The right to request access to information is enshrined by three different laws according to the type of information to be accessed.</p> <ul> <li>Requests from an individual to look at his or her personal data should be dealt with under the Data Protection Act.</li> <li>Requests for environmental information should be dealt with under the Environmental Information Regulations. </li> <li>Any other written request for information should be dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act. </li></ul> <p>Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the House of Lords are not public authorities under the Freedom of Information Act or the Environmental Information Regulations and are not obliged to respond to requests under these laws.</p> <p>MPs are subject to the Data Protection Act and requests for your own personal data that is held by an MP should be sent directly to that MP and not to the House of Commons.</p> <h2>Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)</h2> <p>The House of Commons and the House of Lords are required under the Freedom of Information Act to make information that they hold available to the public.</p> <ol> <li>Information must be made available proactively via publication schemes that have been approved by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).</li> <li>Anyone is entitled to make a request for access to information held by either House that is not already publicly available. The requested information must be disclosed unless an exemption applies.</li></ol> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/foi-general/">General information on the Freedom of Information Act</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/foi-general/commons-foi/">Specific information regarding the House of Commons and the Freedom of Information Act</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/foi-general/lords-foi/">Specific information regarding the House of Lords and the Freedom of Information Act</a> </li></ul> <h2>Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA)</h2> <p>Individuals have a right to request access to personal data about themselves under the Data Protection Act (DPA). Such requests will be processed under the Data Protection Act and not the Freedom of Information Act.</p> <p>The Data Protection Act also requires the Houses to comply with certain principles regarding the way personal data is processed.</p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/data-protection/">General information on the DPA</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/data-protection/commons-data-protection/">Specific information regarding the House of Commons and the Data Protection Act</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/data-protection/lords-data-protection/">Specific information regarding the House of Lords and the Data Protection Act</a> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120117034417/http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/data_protection/practical_application/promotion_of_a_political_party.pdf">Information Commissioner's Office: Guidance for political parties for campaigning or promotional purposes</a>  </li></ul> <h2>Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR)</h2> <p>Members of the public have a right to request access to information about the environment. Such requests will be processed under the Environmental Information Regulations and not the Freedom of Information Act.</p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/eir/">General information on the Environmental Information Regulations</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/eir/commons-eir/">Specific information regarding the House of Commons and the Environmental Information Regulations</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/eir/lords-eir/">Specific information regarding the House of Lords and the Environmental Information Regulations</a> </li></ul> </div> </div>  </div> </div> <div id="panel"> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Related information</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"></a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p></p><div> <h3>Information Commissioner</h3>The Information Commissioner's Office is the UK's independent authority set up to promote access to official information and to protect personal information. Further information about relevant laws is available on the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120117034417/http://www.ico.gov.uk/">Information Commissioner's Office website.</a><br/><br/> <h3> </h3> <h3>Relevant legislation</h3>The official, revised edition of relevant legislation can be found in the UK Statute Law Database through the following links <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120117034417/http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/searchresults.aspx?type=qs&title=freedom+of+information&year=&number=&legtype=all+legislation">Freedom of Information</a> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120117034417/http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/searchresults.aspx?type=qs&title=data+protection&year=&number=&legtype=all+legislation">Data Protection</a> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120117034417/http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/searchresults.aspx?type=qs&title=environmental+information&year=&number=&legtype=all+legislation">Environmental Information</a><br/></li></ul> <h3> </h3> <h3>Records Management</h3> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/parliamentary-archives/records-management-in-parliament/">Records Management in Parliament</a> </li></ul></div> </div>  </div> </div> </div> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Related information</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"></a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p></p><div> <h3>Information Commissioner</h3>The Information Commissioner's Office is the UK's independent authority set up to promote access to official information and to protect personal information. Further information about relevant laws is available on the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120117034417/http://www.ico.gov.uk/">Information Commissioner's Office website.</a><br/><br/> <h3> </h3> <h3>Relevant legislation</h3>The official, revised edition of relevant legislation can be found in the UK Statute Law Database through the following links <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120117034417/http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/searchresults.aspx?type=qs&title=freedom+of+information&year=&number=&legtype=all+legislation">Freedom of Information</a> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120117034417/http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/searchresults.aspx?type=qs&title=data+protection&year=&number=&legtype=all+legislation">Data Protection</a> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120117034417/http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/searchresults.aspx?type=qs&title=environmental+information&year=&number=&legtype=all+legislation">Environmental Information</a><br/></li></ul></div> </div>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <p class="marker">Footer links</p> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/azindex/">A-Z index</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/">Glossary</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/">Freedom of Information</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl05_hypLink" href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/job-opportunities/">Jobs</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl06_hypLink" href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/using-this-website/">Using this website</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl07_hypLink" href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/">Copyright</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl08_hypLink" href="/web/20120117034417/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/privacy/">Cookies</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ Sys.Application.initialize(); //]]> </script> </form> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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