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Freedom of information

The SCC has campaigned for many years for greater freedom of information and open, transparent systems which make as much information available to the public as possible. We welcome the FOI legislation and the new rights which will improve understanding of how public authorities carry out their duties, how they make decisions and how they spend public money. Placing more information in the public domain will ensure greater transparency and trust, and widen participation in policy debate.

As a cross-border body, the SCC is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. However, we intend to comply with the more rigorous standards of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 as far as practicable, when handling requests for information. The SCC has made a commitment to openness and intends to take a best practice approach to FOI. Wherever possible, we will endeavour to make full disclosure to those who request information from us.

The SCC's Freedom of Information Officer is:

Trisha McAuley

Head of Corporate Resources
Scottish Consumer Council
100 Queen Street
Glasgow, G1 3DN

Phone: 0141 226 5261
Fax: 0141 221 0731
Minicom: 0141 2268459
E-mail: tmcauley@scotconsumer.org.uk

Publications Scheme

The Scottish Consumer Council(SCC) is, constitutionally, a sub-committee of the National National Consumer Council(NCC) and therefore adheres to the NCC publication scheme.

The purpose of the Scheme is to ensure that a significant amount of information is available, without the need for specific requests being made. Schemes are intended to encourage organisations to publish more information pro-actively and to develop a greater culture of openness.

The publication scheme sets out:

what information we publish or intend to publish as a matter of course;

how this information will be published; and

whether the information will be available free-of-charge or on payment.

NCC Publication Scheme
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The majority of information and publications can be downloaded free-of-charge from this website. However, there may be a charge for some publications, to cover our costs. There is no profit margin included.

SCC documents that generally have a cover price are:

policy documents (discussion papers, policy reports)
good practice guides
policy briefings
research reports (SCC findings)
other major publications

Other documents that are free-of-charge are:

annual reviews
annual reports
consultation documents
policy briefings
background papers and other.

Our aim at the SCC is to have our policy communicated to decision-makers and interested parties who can help to make a difference for consumers. Therefore, we provide our publications free-of-charge to MP's, journalists and other policy-makers.

Full prices are charged to corporations and organisations.

Publications, except for multiple copies, are usually free-of-charge for charities, voluntary groups, most government departments, students and individual consumers.

The pricing policy is reviewed once a year.

Withheld information and appeal procedures

Our policy is to be as open as possible and supply the information you have requested, but we may withhold information if we consider it is commercially sensitive or if it relates to individuals.

If we refuse to supply all or part of any other information you have asked for we will write to you giving our reasons for refusal.

If information within a document made available under this publication scheme is withheld, the document will be clearly marked to show where information has been removed and the exemption we have used.

If you are not satisfied with the reasons you have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner. You may also appeal if you believe the charges we have made to supply information are unfair or that we have not complied with our obligations under that requirement.