Introduction
As a Scottish public authority, WICS is committed to openness, transparency, and accountability. We recognise the public’s statutory right to access information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs). We will meet our responsibilities in accordance with the Section 60 Code of Practice issued by the Scottish Ministers, which sets out recommended good practice for all Scottish public authorities.
Commitment to the Right of Access
We will comply with FOISA and the EIRs by making information available on request unless an exemption or exception applies. FOISA requires authorities to give access to recorded information they hold, and the Code emphasises the need to respond lawfully, consistently, and transparently.
Proactive Publication
We will maintain and regularly update our Publication Scheme, ensuring that information we expect the public to want is published routinely. The Section 60 Code stresses the importance of proactive publication as a central feature of good FOI practice.
We recognise the importance of openness regarding the financial and operational details of our work and aim to disclose high-value expenditure information wherever possible. Financial information can be found on our website within our Governance and Annual Reports.
In addition to our Publication Scheme, we proactively publish a disclosure log, which is a record of all requests received and the responses we provided. This enhances our commitment to being open and transparent. Everything published on our disclosure log will be dealt with in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Advice and Assistance
We will provide reasonable advice and assistance to all applicants, including helping clarify requests and explaining processes where needed. The Code specifically identifies advice and assistance as a core element of best practice in request handling.
Efficient Request Handling
We will handle all FOI and EIR requests promptly and in line with statutory timescales. We are aware of the very clear expectations for receiving, acknowledging, and responding to requests, including proper information retrieval and record keeping.
Fair and Appropriate Use of Exemptions
Where we rely on exemptions or exceptions, we will do so responsibly, explain the reasons clearly, and apply the public interest test where required, in line with the standards set out by the Code.
Internal Reviews
While we strive to issue a complete and robust response to all applicants, we recognise the applicant’s right to request review, and will adhere to our duties in this respect. Where an applicant is dissatisfied with our response, we will conduct a review impartially and in accordance with the standards imposed upon us.
Good Record Keeping and Information Governance Practices
We recognise that good recording keeping and information governance practices are essential to FOI compliance. We will strive to apply effective records management policies and processes that enable accurate identification, prompt retrieval, and effective disclosure of information.
Accountability, Monitoring, and Reporting
Our FOI performance is closely monitored and we record and report our statistics to ensure we drive continual improvement.
We will cooperate fully with the Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC), respond constructively to enquiries, and act on recommendations. The Commissioner oversees compliance and promotes best practice across Scottish public bodies.
Conclusion
In addition to this high-level external facing policy statement, WICS has a robust Access to Information Policy which is accessible to our employees, and available on request.