Transparency

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives the public the right to access information held by public bodies like HMCPSI. It aims to improve openness and accountability in the public sector.

You must make a Freedom of Information (FOI) request in writing. You can do it by letter or email.

If you cannot make your request in writing because of a disability, please call us on 020 7210 1143. We can help you make the request another way – for example, over the phone.

You can ask for environmental information in writing, in person or by phone.

Before you make a request

You might not need to make an FOI request if we have:

• already published the information
• previously responded to an FOI request

You can find our responses to previous FOI requests here on our website. You can also search the UK Government website for published responses to FOI requests.

You can also email or phone us to ask if we’ve already published the information or responded to an FOI request.

What to include

You should give:

• your name (not needed if you’re asking for environmental information)
• a contact postal or email address
• a detailed description of the information you want – for example, you might want all information held on a subject, or just a summary

You can ask for information in a particular format, such as:

• paper or electronic copies of information
• audio format
• large print

When you’ll get a response

We should send you the information within 20 working days of receiving your request.

In Scotland, you should allow six extra days if you send your request by post.

If we need more time, we will tell you when to expect the information.

When your information will be shared

If you’ve sent an FOI request to several government departments, agencies or arm’s length bodies, they may share your name and request between them. This is to help deal with your enquiry more effectively.

No other details will be shared and your information will not be used for any other purpose.

Costs

Most requests are free but you might be asked to pay a small amount for photocopies or postage. We will tell you if you have to pay anything.

Please check the copyright status of information you receive if you plan to reproduce it.

The Data Protection Act 1998 gives individuals the right to ask organisations for a description and a copy of the personal data they hold about you. The Act calls this a subject access request.

The Act aims to secure individuals’ right to privacy by protecting the information organisations hold about you.

To submit a subject access request to HMCPSI:

• Send a written request to our London office either by email or post. Please include proof of identity and, if you would like the information posted to you, a name and postal address.
• We may contact you to clarify your request, so we can make sure we send you exactly the information you are asking for. We will not ask you to explain why you are asking for the information.

Our model publication scheme commits us to making certain information available to the public as part of our normal business activities. It aims to make the maximum amount of information readily available at minimum inconvenience and cost to the public.

The scheme was prepared and approved by the Information Commissioner, and adopted by us.

The scheme covers:

• Who we are and what we do: organisational information, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance
• What we spend and how we spend it: information about our projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts
• Our priorities and performance: strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews
• How we make decisions: policy proposals and decisions, decision-making processes, consultations, internal criteria and procedures
• Our policies and procedures: current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities
• List and registers: information held in registers required by law, other lists and registers related to our functions
• The services we offer: advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases, descriptions of services offered

Under the scheme, we have committed to:

• Specify what information we hold that is covered by the scheme
• Proactively publish this information, or otherwise make it available, as a matter of routine
• Produce and publish the methods we use to make this information routinely available, so you can identify and access it easily
• Regularly review and update the information we make available under the scheme
• Produce a schedule of fees charged for access to information we make available under the scheme

How we make this information available

Wherever practical, we provide this information on our website.

Where information covered by the scheme is not available on our website, or you prefer to access the information a different way, you can send a written request for the information to our London office, either by email or post.

In exceptional circumstances, information may only be available to view in person. Where this is the case, we will provide you with contact details and work with you to arrange an appointment within a reasonable timeframe.

When providing you with information under this scheme, either or our website or in response to a written request, we will follow disability and discrimination legislation.

Fees

Information we publish on our website is available to access there free of charge.

We may charge for other information, to cover the costs of photocopying, postage and packaging, or costs to do with directly viewing the information. We will keep these fees to a minimum and make sure they are justified.

Any fees we charge for viewing information covered by this scheme will be subject to a publicly available charging regime specified by Parliament.

Where we charge to access information, we will confirm the amount due before providing the information. We may also request payment before providing the information.