Requests for information
We are committed to openness and transparency in our work and aim to publish as much information as possible about how we work and the decisions we make.
To see the different types of information we make available and how to obtain them, please refer to our Guide to Information. We publish this guide to meet the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act’s requirement that we must have a ‘publication scheme’.
There is a lot of information accessible through our website and Guide to Information. However, if you cannot find what you are looking for and want to ask for some information, you can either
- submit an FOI request
- submit a Subject Access request
- submit a Re-use of Public Sector Information (ROPSI) request.
In some cases we may charge you a fee for supplying the information. Click here for details of charges for dealing with requests for information.
You can find out more about your rights under the FOI Act, Data Protection Act or ROPSI Regulations on the Information Commissioner’s Office website.
FOI requests concerning access agreement negotiations
The legislation allows us to refuse to disclose information in exceptional circumstances. OFFA will not release draft access agreements or details of negotiations with individual institutions, because to do so would prejudice our ability to conduct frank and open negotiations in the future and so the public interest in not disclosing outweighs the public interest in disclosing.
Making a Freedom of Information request
Under the FOI Act, anyone has the right to ask for information we hold. We must:
- tell you if we hold the information you want
- give you the information unless there are valid reasons for withholding it.
In some cases we may charge you a fee for supplying the information. Click here for details of charges for dealing with requests for information.
You can find out more about your rights under the FOI Act on the Information Commissioner’s Office website.
You can make a request by emailing enquiries@offa.org.uk or writing to:
Information Request
OFFA
Nicholson House
Lime Kiln Close
Stoke Gifford
BRISTOL
BS34 8SR
Your request should include:
- contact details, as we may have to get in touch with you to discuss your request
- as much detail as possible about the information or documents you want to access
- the type of format in which you would like us to supply the information, for example as hard copy, via email etc.
Making a Subject Access request
Under the Data Protection Act 1998, anyone has the right to know what information OFFA holds about you.
You can make a request by writing to:
Information Request, OFFA, Nicholson House, Lime Kiln Close, Stoke Gifford, BRISTOL, BS34 8SR
If you want to ask whether we hold any personal information about you, please note the following:
- You will need to supply proof of your identity. This should include both of the following:
- A photocopy of the identification pages of your current passport or of a current photo drive licence.
- The original of a current utilities (such as electricity) bill, or credit card or bank statement, which includes your name and current address. This can be returned to you if required.
- It would also help us to narrow our search if you could tell us the context in which you have had dealings with us, and when.
- We will charge a £10 fee for this service.
Making a Re-use request
Should you wish to re-use information which is owned by OFFA, you may be able to do so in accordance with the ROPSI Regulations 2015.
Please submit your request in writing, providing your name and an address for correspondence, specifying the document and/or information requested and the purpose for which, and how, the information is to be re-used. Requests should be sent to enquiries@offa.org.uk.
If you ask us for information and are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to appeal against our decision.
How we will deal with your request for information
We aim to reply promptly to your request. We are obliged by statute to provide a response within 20 working days for FOI requests and ROPSI requests and within 40 calendar days for Subject Access requests. We may not be able to give you some information because it falls within one of the exemptions of the Act. When that happens we will tell you which exemption applies and, in most cases, why the information cannot be released.
In some cases we may need to extend the deadline to consider the public interest. If the time limit is extended, we will notify you of this delay within 20 working days of your initial request and state when we believe we will be able to respond in full.
How to appeal against the way we have handled a request for information
If you’re unhappy with the way we have dealt with an FOI request, you can ask us to review our decision. Please email enquiries@offa.org.uk or write to:
David Barrett
Assistant Director
OFFA
Nicholson House
Lime Kiln Close
Stoke Gifford
BRISTOL
BS34 8SR
We aim to deal with simple complaints within two to three weeks and more complex complaints within six weeks. If you’re still unhappy with our response, you have the right to complain to:
The Information Commissioner
FOI Complaints Resolution
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 01625 545700
Fax: 01625 524510