FAQ's: Freedom of Information

Are there any restrictions on what I can do with information I get if I make a request under the Freedom of Information Act? Information provided to you by a Scottish public authority might be subject to copyright protection. You do not have a right to re-use such information in a way that would infringe copyright (…

Can I do whatever I want with information that I get from the Council? No. The Council owns the copyright in most of the information it holds.

Do I have to say why I want information if I make a request under the Freedom of Information Act? You do not have to tell a Scottish public authority why you want the information that you request, or what you want it for.

Does the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 only apply to records created from 1st January 2005, when it came into force? The Freedom of Information Act is fully retrospective and covers all information held in any format including CCTV, electronic and paper records. You can ask for information from any time peri…

How can I make a request for information? Your request must be in some sort of permanent form, so that there's a permanent record of it. This could be a letter, e-mail or handwritten note. You can request information: using th…

How will my request be handled? We must respond to all information requests we receive.  We will advise and assist you in making a request and provide the information within 20 working days from receipt of your request.…

What if English is not my first language and I want the Council to provide information under the Freedom of Information Act? When you request the information you should tell us how you would prefer information to be provided.  We will make every effort to meet your needs, by arranging for information to be…

What sort of information can I request under the Freedom of Information Act? You can request any recorded information, in any form and of any age, under the Freedom of Information Act (Scotland) 2002.

Who is responsible for monitoring compliance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002? The Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC) is responsible for ensuring that all public authorities comply with the Act.

Will I be able to see all relevant information if I make a request for information from the council? We will always make as much information available as possible. However, there are certain circumstances where the Council is legally permitted to withhold information from you. For example, if…

Will I be charged a fee for obtaining information under the Freedom of Information Act? Most requests for information will be free. However, the Council is allowed to charge a fee for answering some requests for information. If we plan to charge a fee, we will tell you what the f…