Freedom of information
Introduction to Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (FoISA)
The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FoISA) requires that all Scottish public authorities make certain types of information routinely available and provide a guide to information telling the public how to access the information and what it might cost.
SRUC has adopted the Model Publication Scheme produced by the Scottish Information Commissioner, who is responsible for enforcing FoISA. This scheme was approved in 2013 and updated in 2018 and can be viewed on the Commissioner's website.
We have made a commitment to publish all information which we hold which falls within the classes of information in the scheme. We are required by FoISA to have due regard to the public interest in providing access to the information that we hold which relates to:
- The services we provide
- The cost of those services
- The standard of those services
- The facts that inform the important decisions we take
- The reasoning that informs our decisions
The Model Publication Scheme imposes six Principles which govern the way we make information available through our Guide to Information.
1. Availability and formats: Accessing information under the scheme
Our Guide to Information provides more details of the information available under the scheme, along with additional guidance on how the information falling within each 'class' may be accessed.
Online
Some of the information listed in our Guide to Information is listed on our website. It can be accessed directly via the Guide to Information or by using the website's 'search' facility. If you are having trouble finding any document listed under our scheme, please contact foi@sruc.ac.uk
By email
If the information you seek is not published on our website, we can send it to you by email wherever possible. You may also make a direct request to us by emailing foi@sruc.ac.uk.
By post
Information under the scheme may also be available in paper copy form. Please address your request to Freedom of Information Queries, SRUC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG.
When writing to us to request information, please include your name and address and full details of the information or documents you would like to receive. Please also include a telephone number and/or email address so we can contact you to clarify any details, if necessary.
By inspection at our premises
Some of the information that we publish in accordance with the scheme may be available for inspection on site.
2. Exempt information: Information that we may withhold
Our aim in maintaining this guide is to be as open as possible. Information covered by the publication scheme can either be accessed through our website or will be provided within the timelines of FOISA following your request.
If a document contains information that SRUC may legitimately wish to exempt from disclosure under an appropriate section of Scotland's Freedom of Information laws we may remove or redact the information before publication, but we will inform you that we have done so and provide an explanation of why the information is withheld. The Scottish Information Commissioner's guidance on information that may be exempt from publication is available on their website.
3. Our copyright policy
Information obtained from our publication scheme can be copied or reproduced without formal permission from SRUC provided it is copied or reproduced accurately, is not used in a misleading context and provided that the source of material is identified and the copyright status acknowledged.
Where the publication scheme includes information where the copyright holder is a third party (such as the Crown), it is recommended that the consent of the third party is sought before the information obtained via the scheme is copied.
All other information must be copied within the limits of the CDPA and its various amendments. Responsibility lies with the enquirer to ensure that Copyright is not breached.
4. Our charging policy
SRUC does not normally charge for information but we retain the right to do so under the conditions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act. This includes environmental information in response to requests under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.
5. Advice and assistance
If the information you seek is not published on our website or in the Model Publication Scheme you may also make a direct request to us by emailing foi@sruc.ac.uk or writing to Freedom of Information Queries, SRUC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG.
6. Duration
Where we publish information on a regular basis (for example, financial statements, minutes of the Board) we make that information available for at least the current and two previous financial (1 April to 31 March) or academic (1 August to 31 July) years. In most other cases, where information is updated or superseded, we make only the current version available. See Principle 5 'Advice and Assistance' for how to request older information.
Model Publication Scheme: Guide to Information
Our Publication Scheme embraces Section 23 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 which instructs Scottish Public Authorities to adopt a Publication Scheme with regard to the public interest.
The publication scheme provides our organisation with an opportunity to improve the public understanding with respect to our provision of services, associated costs and the standards that we strive to maintain for our customers.
In addition, as a provider of knowledge and information, the publication scheme provides an insight to our perspective on matters relating to education and training, research, consultancy and advice.
Model Publication Scheme
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