1. Introduction to the Guide to Information
This is the SRUC Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act policy and information website.
The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) requires that all Scottish public authorities make certain types of information routinely available and, if applicable, provide a cost guide to information telling the public how to access the information and what it might cost.
You can view our publication scheme on this website via our 'Guide to Information'. This is an index of the type of information that we hold and includes information on how you can access this information. We are currently reviewing our publication scheme in accordance with the forthcoming 2013 Model Publication Scheme for Scottish Higher Education Institutions.
We have made a commitment to publish all information which we hold which falls within the classes of information in the scheme.
We are required by FOISA to have due regard to the public interest in providing access to the information that we hold which relates to:
- The services we provide
- The cost of those services
- The standard of those services
- The facts that inform the important decisions we take
- The reasoning that informs our decisions
Our Guide to Information provides more details of the information available under the scheme, along with additional guidance on how the information falling within each 'class' may be accessed.
2. Accessing information under the scheme
Online
Some of the information listed in our Guide to Information is listed on our website. It can be accessed directly via the Guide to Information or by using the website's 'search' facility. If you are having trouble finding any document listed under our scheme, please contact Devon Taylor, Assistant Company Secretary, devon.taylor@sruc.ac.uk, 0131 535 4129, for further assistance.
By email
If the information you seek is not published on our website, we can send it to you by email wherever possible.
You may also make a direct request to us using the appropriate feedback form:
By post
Information under the scheme may also be available in paper copy form. Please address your request to Devon Taylor, Assistant Company Secretary, SRUC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG.
When writing to us to request information, please include your name and address and full details of the information or documents you would like to receive. Please also include a telephone number so we can contact you to clarify any details, if necessary.
By inspection at our premises
Some of the information that we publish in accordance with the scheme may be available for inspection on site. For further information, please contact Devon Taylor, Assistant Company Secretary, devon.taylor@sruc.ac.uk, 0131 535 4129.
3. Information that we may withhold
Our aim in maintaining this guide is to be as open as possible. Information covered by the publication scheme can either be accessed through our website or will be provided promptly following your request.
If a document contains information that SRUC may legitimately wish to exempt from disclosure under an appropriate section of Scotland's Freedom of Information laws (for example sensitive personal information of a trade secret), we may remove or redact the information before publication but we will inform you that we have done so and provide an explanation of why the information is whithheld. The Scottish Information Commissioner's guidance on information that may be exempt from publication is available online:
Complaints
SRUC will endeavour to provide a high standard of service to all requests for information and complaints. For more information please visit our Complaints page.
4. Our charging policy
SRUC does not normally charge for information but we retain the right to do so under the conditions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act. This includes environmental information in response to requests under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.
5. Our copyright policy
Information obtained from our publication scheme can be copied or reproduced without formal permission from SRUC provided it is copied or reproduced accurately, is not used in a misleading context and provided that the source of material is identified and the copyright status acknowledged.
Where the publication scheme includes information where the copyright holder is a third party (such as the Crown), it is recommended that the consent of the third party is sought before the information obtained via the scheme is copied.
All other information must be copied within the limits of the CDPA and its various amendments. Responsibility lies with the enquirer to ensure that Copyright is not breached.
6. How to access information not available under this scheme
If the information you are seeking is not available under this publication scheme, then you may wish to request it from us.
7. Contact us
You can contact us for assistance with any aspect to this guide to information. We will be pleased to hear your comments and suggestions, work to resolve any complaints, or advise you on how to ask for information that we do not routinely publish. Please contact Devon Taylor, Assistant Company Secretary, devon.taylor@sruc.ac.uk, 0131 535 4129.