Guide to information available through our publication scheme

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (the Act) requires Scottish public authorities to produce and maintain a publication scheme. Authorities are under a legal obligation to:

publish the classes of information that they make routinely available
tell the public how to access the information and what it might cost.

The Auditor General, Accounts Commission and Audit Scotland have adopted the Model Publication Scheme 2011 produced by the Scottish Information Commissioner. He has approved this scheme until 31 May 2015. The scheme and the information available through it form part of this document.

The purpose of this guide to information is to:

help the public to see what information is available (and what is not available) in relation to each class;
state what charges may be applied;
explain how to find the information easily;
provide contact details for enquiries and to get help with accessing the information;
explain how to request information we hold that has not been published.

Availability and formats

The information we publish through the model scheme is, wherever possible, available on our website. We offer alternative arrangements for people who do not want to, or cannot, access the information online or by inspection at our premises. For example, we can usually arrange to send information to you in paper copy (although there may be a charge for this).

Exempt information

We will publish the information we hold that falls within the classes of information. If a document contains information that is exempt under the Act (for example sensitive personal information or a trade secret), we will remove or redact the information before publication and explain why.

Copyright

Where we hold the copyright to the published information, the information may be copied or reproduced without formal permission, provided that:

it is copied or reproduced accurately;
it is not used in a misleading context, and;
the source of the material is identified.

Where we do not hold the copyright in information we publish, we will make this clear.

Charges

This section explains when we may make a charge for our publications and how any charge will be calculated.

There is no charge to view or download information from our website or to view information at our offices. Prior arrangements must be made to view information at our offices.

The Act allows public bodies to make a charge for large volumes of information and where we incur costs of more than £100 to supply the information to you. Details of the charging regime are available from www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2004/467/contents/made Opens in a new window

We may also charge for photocopying and postage. We will always tell you what the cost is before providing the information to you. Our photocopying charges are shown in the tables below:

Black and white photocopying charges
Size of paper	Pence per side
A3	10p
A4	5p

Colour photocopying charges
Size of paper	Pence per side
A4	20p

Contact us

You can contact us for assistance with any aspect of this publication scheme:

Tel: 0845 146 1010
Email: info@audit-scotland.gov.uk

In writing:
Alex Devlin
Audit Scotland
110 George Street
Edinburgh
EH2 4LH

We will also advise you how to ask for information that we do not publish or how to complain if you are dissatisfied with any aspect of this publication scheme.