Page 87 - Member of Parliament Uk-handbook

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InFORMATIOn SERVICES

The Act gives the public a general right of access to Freedom of
Information
information held by public authorities. The Act also requires
www.
public authorities to have an approved publication scheme parliament.uk/
which is a means of providing access to information which site_information/
foi.cfm
an authority proactively publishes. The House of Commons
scheme and other information about the Act are online.
When responding to requests, there are procedural
requirements set out in the Act which an authority
must follow. There are also valid reasons for withholding
information, which are known as exemptions from the
right to know. These exemptions are designed to prevent
unwarranted prejudice arising from disclosures and include
protection for parliamentary privilege, private personal data
and security.
Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA)
Individuals have a right to request access to personal data Data Protection
Officer x2032
about themselves under the Data Protection Act (DPA).
intranet.
Such requests will be processed under the Data Protection
parliament.uk/
Act and not the Freedom of Information Act. The Data data-protection
Protection Act also requires the Houses to comply with Data Protection
certain principles regarding the way personal data is Act 1998: Personal
information
processed. You are individually responsible under the DPA about constituents
for information held by your offices. You must register as a and others
www.parliament.
‘Data Controller’ with the Information Commissioner (a
uk/documents/
straightforward process). upload/advice_
for_members_
offices.pdf