The House receives thousands of written requests each year, all of which would be subject to FOIA/EIR. However, the majority involve information which is routinely provided and are therefore treated as business as usual.
If you receive a request for information which is not business as usual, you must inform IRIS as soon as possible.
Summary of requirements
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) provides the basic right to request access to information held by around 100,000 public bodies including the House of Commons. A similar right to request access applies specifically to information about the environment (Environmental Information Regulations 2004 or EIR).
All written requests sent to any part of the House of Commons with a name and address for a response fall within the scope of FOIA/EIR. Requests do not have to mention FOIA/EIR.
On receipt of a written request for information we have two obligations and a tight statutory deadline to meet.
1. We are obliged to confirm or deny we hold the requested information
2. and, if we do hold it, provide access.
Both obligations have to be met within twenty working days of receipt of the letter (which passes very quickly).
The duty to confirm or deny and to provide access is subject to a set of exemptions or exceptions.
The House receives thousands of written requests each year, all of which would be subject to FOIA/EIR. However, the majority involve information which is routinely provided and are therefore treated as business as usual.
FOIA starts to apply when: we do not know if we hold the information required, if it is not normally routinely provided or when we are seeking a way to refuse the request. All requests falling within this description are logged and receive a formal acknowledgment and response which conform to the requirements of FOIA/EIR.
If you receive a request for information which is not business as usual, you must inform IRIS as soon as possible.
IRIS logs all such requests, allocates responsibility for the compilation of the information, coordinates legal advice and assists with the drafting of responses.
If you receive a FOIA/EIR request or are asked to compile the information or a response, you must act quickly.
The detailed guidance which follows will assist.