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Our Publications scheme

This publication scheme specifies the categories of information that the office of the Small Business Commissioner publishes and it explains how it will be made available.

Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. About this publication scheme
  3. Classes of information
  4. Is information free of charge or on payment?
  5. Copyright
  6. Information not already published
  7. Written requests
  8. Feedback and complaints about the scheme
  9. Further information

 

Introduction

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) requires public authorities to adopt and maintain a publication scheme, the purpose being to:

  • specify the classes of information we have committed to publish
  • say how we will make that information available
  • say whether the information is available free of charge, or attracts a cost

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 covers all recorded information held by the Small Business Commissioner – it includes documents, emails, notes and records of telephone conversations – and is not limited to official documents.

Our publication scheme follows the Information Commissioner’s model publication scheme for public authorities.

Our publication scheme

Our policy is to publish proactively as much information as we can where the information would have a wider public interest. Therefore this publication scheme is not an exhaustive list of all the different types of information or individual publications, but rather a description of the classes or types of information that we are committed to publishing.

The Small Business Commissioner will publish all freedom of information requests received together with a summary of the responses given, with any material released as a result.

This scheme does not include information that we consider to be sensitive, such as certain types of commercial or personal information, or information about security matters, or which comprises legal advice, or may be subject to data protection legislation.

Where practicable our publications will be made available on the Small Business Commissioner website or on GOV.UK. Where publications are not available online, details of how to obtain hardcopies will be provided.

Classes of information

The Small Business Commissioner will release information under the seven classes of information specified by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the model publication scheme guidance. These are:

  • Who we are and what we do

Organisational information, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance

  • What we spend and how we spend it

Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts

  • What our priorities are and how we are doing

Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews

  • How we make decisions

Policy proposals and decisions, decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations

  • Our policies and procedures

Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities

  • Lists and registers

Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority

  • The services we offer

Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases. A description of the services offered.

The classes of information will not generally include:

  • Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure
  • Information in draft form
  • Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons.

Is information free of charge or on payment?

The Small Business Commissioner’s charging policy is to publish most information online, where it is available for you to view free of charge. If you do not have access to the internet, a printed copy of the web page(s) can be sent to you free of charge.

Current publications are available free of charge on the Small Business Commissioner’s website or GOV.UK.

If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before the information is provided. Payment may be requested prior to the provision of the information.

Copyright

While independent of Government the Small Business Commissioner is a Crown body and our information is subject to Crown copyright administered by The Stationery Office (TSO). Re-use or reproduce our publications, e.g. commercially or for circulation for educational purposes, is permitted under the terms of the Open Government Licence.

Information not already published

If you cannot find what you want through this scheme, or otherwise on our website, you may wish to make a request to us under the FOI Act or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). Get information by submitting a Freedom of Information request. or by writing to the following address:

Office of the Small Business Commissioner

23 Stephenson Street

Birmingham

B2 4BH

Written requests

Information held by a public authority that is not published under this scheme can be requested in writing, when its provision will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the FOI Act.

Feedback and complaints about the scheme

If you would like to provide feedback about the Small Business Commissioner’s publication scheme, or have a specific complaint, please contact us.

For information