Freedom of Information
Freedom of Information Act 2000
 The
Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives you a general right of access
to information held by public authorities. It is intended
to promote a culture of openness and accountability amongst public
sector bodies, and therefore to facilitate better public understanding
of how public authorities carry out their duties, why they make
the decisions they do, and how they spend public money.
That Act allows you:
- To know if information exists
- To have it supplied on written request (which includes emails)
What we must do:
- Maintain a Publication Scheme, which sets out the information
that we will routinely make available. Tyne and Wear Emergency
Planning Unit's Publication Scheme is part of the Publication
Scheme of the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.
- Tell you whether we hold the information requested and provide
it or explain why it has not been provided, quoting the relevant
exemption under the Act.
- Reply to you within 20 working days.
- Advise and assist you to make your request. We may contact you
to clarify your request.
- Although there will be no charge for information that costs
Tyne and Wear Emergency Planning Unit less than £450 to
retrieve and collate, we may request a fee if this limit is exceeded.
If you do not wish to pay the fee, we can refuse to supply the
information.
More information about the Freedom of Information Act can be found
at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
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