What is a Publication Scheme?

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“FOIA”) every public authority is required to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme.

A Publication Scheme commits an authority:

• To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information, including environmental information, which is held by the authority and falls within the classifications as set out by the Information Commissioners.
• To specify the information which is held by the authority and falls within the classifications as set out by the Information Commissioner.
• To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine,information in line with the statements contained within this scheme.
• To produce and publish the methods by which the specific information is made routinely available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by members ofthe public.
• To review and update on a regular basis the information the authority makes available under this scheme.
• To produce a schedule of any fees charged for access to information which is made proactively available.
• To make this publication scheme available to the public.