Appendix 1: Information exempt from disclosure under FoIA
Appendix 2: Information governance
Appendix 3: External review bodies
Information exempt from disclosure under FoIA
A: Qualified exemptions
These apply in situations where the Trust has a legitimate interest in not releasing information to ensure its proper functions can be performed.
They will include commercially sensitive information and information held as part of the Trust’s regulatory function.
The following sections of FoIA are relevant:
|
s22 |
Information intended for future publication |
|
s30 |
Investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities |
|
s31 |
Law enforcement |
|
s33 |
Audit functions |
|
s35 |
Formulation of government policy |
|
s36 |
Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs (except information held by the House of Commons or the House of Lords - where an absolute exemption applies) |
|
s37 |
Communications with The Queen (e.g. over honours) |
|
s38 |
Health and safety |
|
s39 |
Environmental information |
|
s40 |
Personal information 1 |
|
s42 |
Legal professional privilege |
|
s43 |
Commercial interests |
Where these sections apply the Trust will subject the request for information to a public interest test, by which it will consider whether or not the public interest in withholding the information is greater than the public interest in releasing it. If the information is withheld the applicant will be informed.
1 If the institution believes that disclosure would not breach any of the data protection principles, but the individual who is the subject of the information has properly served notice under s.10 DPA 1998 that disclosure would cause unwarranted substantial damage or distress, or the individual who is the subject of the information would not have a right to know about it or a right of access to it under the DPA 1998, there is no absolute exemption, and the institution should consider the public interest in deciding whether to release the information.
B: Absolute exemptions
Absolute exemptions apply to situations when to respond to a request for information would lead the Trust to be in breach of another legal obligation. The following sections of FoIA are relevant:
|
s21 |
Information accessible to applicant by other means |
|
s32 |
Court records |
|
s34 |
Parliamentary privilege |
|
s40 |
Personal information 2 |
|
s41 |
Information provided in confidence |
|
s44 |
Where a disclosure is prohibited by an enactment or would constitute
contempt of court |
2 There is an absolute exemption from the provisions of the FoIA if an applicant making a request for information under the FoIA is the subject of the information requested and they already have the right of 'subject access' under the DPA 1998.
There is also an exemption from the provisions of the FoIA if the information requested under the FoIA concerns a third party and disclosure by the institution would breach one of the data protection principles.
Information governance
Statutory authorities
The websites below will provide details on governance relating to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the office and functions of the relevant statutory authorities:
Publications
This Publication Scheme refers to certain publications which provide advice and information about the Freedom of Information Act 2000. They can be found at the following websites:
-
Code of Practice Under Section 45 FoI Act 2000 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/45)
The Code gives advice on the discharge of public authorities' functions under the Act, such as handling requests for information, consultation with third parties, refusing requests and handling complaints.
Other resources
The following websites also provide advice about the Freedom of Information Act, its operation in the NHS and the development of freedom of information.
The company is project advisor to the NHS on the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act.
External review bodies
