JISC

Version 2: 01 January 2009
Review date: 01 January 2010

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into force in January 2005 and places three basic requirements on JISC, that we:

• routinely put in the public domain as much information about ourselves and our work as is reasonably possible
• ensure that where an individual requires information that we hold, but have not already published, we provide the enquirer with the relevant information unless it is exempt
• ensure our business records are well organised so that staff can find the information readily

Scope

This policy covers how anyone in JISC should handle requests for information. The intention is to adopt a consistent approach to managing requests for information across the Executive. This policy applies to all members of the JISC Executive, including temporary staff, consultants and contractors.

Objective

The objective of this policy is to ensure that all members of the JISC Executive, consultants and contractors are aware of the legal obligation to comply with requests for information that we hold (unless an exemption for disclosure applies). Specifically, JISC staff need to be aware that we must supply the information requested within 20 working days.

Statutory requirements

Freedom of Information Act 2000
Data Protection Act 1998

Roles and responsibilities

• All staff have the responsibility to follow the guidelines and procedures for handling requests for information. Team leaders will need to ensure that members of their team are aware of these.
• The Freedom of Information (FOI) Officer will be responsible for developing and maintaining the JISC publication scheme.
• Any member of staff may receive a request for information and should respond to it as soon as possible. All staff should ensure that they set up an Out of Office message when on leave and include the following FOI statement:

If your query relates to an information request, please forward your email to: foi@jisc.ac.uk as emails sent to this address will be reviewed regularly.

• Any request which cannot be answered by the member of staff who has received it will be forwarded as quickly as possible to the Committee Secretary responsible for the area of work to which the request relates.
• The FOI Officer will be responsible for giving advice and assistance to Committee Secretaries and other colleagues specifically when exemptions are to be used or where a charge for the information might be made.
• The JISC Executive Secretary will be responsible for dealing with all appeals received.
• The Head of Policy & Corporate Services Support will have overall responsibility for the policy and procedures. The policy and procedures should be reviewed annually.