Publication Scheme
Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires every
public authority to adopt and maintain a publication scheme which
relates to the publication of information by the authority, and to
publish information in accordance with its publication scheme. In
addition, section 20 of the Act allows public authorities falling
within particular classes to produce model publication schemes.
As the nine English regional development agencies (RDAs) have
similar remits and therefore fall within particular classes, this
publication scheme is a model scheme drawn up under sections 19 and
20 of the Act. The purpose of this publication scheme is to set
out:
- The classes of information we commit to publish as a matter of
course
- How this information will be published
- Whether this information is available free of charge or on
payment
The nine RDAs undertake to publish information in their areas of
responsibility where:
- Publication is necessary and expedient to support the RDA's
statutory purposes
- Publication is necessary for the purpose of accountability to
Parliament and to the public
- We are required to do so by statute or by Government
commitment
This scheme refers to the classes of information that
the nine English RDAs will publish internally and externally.
The scheme provides guidance on how to find information according
to its type. Publication does not refer solely to printed material,
but includes material posted on RDA websites, one–off printed
documents, electronic documents, printed books, brochures, reports
and leaflets. Much of the material covered by the scheme is
available on the each of the RDA's website as appropriate. Some RDA
documents are also available for review in public libraries.
RDAs may not release any information to which any of the
appropriate exemptions of the Act apply (in particular those
outlined in sections 35 to 43).