Making a Freedom Of Information Request.

Before Making your Request. 

Before you request information from us, please try the two steps listed below. If you still can't find what you are looking for, you can make a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

•  Search our Website for the information.
• Check our Publication Scheme

• Be specific; You will get the information faster if you help us to identify the exact information you require. It will also mean that your request is less likely to be turned down on cost grounds. Make sure that you provide us with a narrow, tightly focused request and give, where appropriate, a relevant time-frame. For example, 1999 to 2000 or January to April 2009.

•  Let us know how you want the information; Tell us how you want the information provided to you, for example, by post or email.

•  Provide your contact details; There may be occasions when we have to get in touch with you to discuss your request. It would therefore help if you could tell us how you would prefer us to contact you should the need arise.

   

Making your Freedom of Information Request. 

Should you wish to make an FOI request, or an FOI related complaint then please use the contact form.

 Alternatively, please write to:

 Information Officer,

Office of the Solicitor to the Advocate General,

Victoria Quay,

Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ.

Or telephone: 0131 244 1569

We may charge a fee for processing Freedom of Information requests. The fees are currently prescribed in the Freedom of Information Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004 (SI 2004/3244) If you would like further guidance on how to submit a Freedom of Information request, please go to the FOI section of the Directgov website.

When we Receive your Request. 

We aim to reply to you promptly and are obliged under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to provide a response within 20 working days from the date we receive your request.  However, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides a number of exemptions, some of which require consideration of the public interest test.  If you have requested information that is covered by such an exemption, OAG are permitted to take more than 20 working days to respond in order to consider the public interest test.  In these circumstances, OAG will write to you to advise when you will receive a response.

If we conclude that the information you have requested is covered by an exemption, we will advise you which exemption applies and, in most cases, why the information cannot be released.