The Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) enables you to access information we hold of which you are the subject. These requests carry a £10 charge. A valid request is answered within 40 calendar days of being received. More information can be found at the web site of the Information Commissioner’s Office.
The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) enable you to access information relating to air, water, land, natural sites, flora and fauna, the built environment and health. The regulations also cover information relating to decisions or activities likely to affect any of the above, including environmental protection and cost-benefit analysis.
Enquiries can be made on the telephone or in writing and you should receive a response within 20 working days. In some cases the 20 working day limit can be extended if the request is for complex or high volumes of information. More information can be found at the Government’s Sustainable Development web site.
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) gives you a general right of access to information held by public authorities, including GOWM. More information can be found via the Information Commissioner’s Office or the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
The Act has created two rights:
- to know if information exists; and
- to have the information supplied on written request.
Government Offices are required to:
- maintain a ‘Publication Scheme’, which sets out the information that we will routinely make available. The Government Office Publication Scheme is part of the Publication Scheme of the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG);
- tell you whether we hold the information requested and provide it, or explain why it has not been provided, quoting the relevant exemption under the legislation;
- reply to you within 20 working days;
- advise and assist you in making your request. We may contact you to clarify your request.
Although there will be no charge for information that costs GOWM less than £600 to produce, we may request a fee if this limit is exceeded. If you do not wish to pay the fee, we can refuse to supply the information.
How to request information
Put your request in writing (this includes fax or e-mail) to the individual concerned if you have his or her name; otherwise to our Information Management e-mail account.
Correspondence should be addressed to:
Information and Records Manager
Government Office for the West Midlands
5 St Philip's Place
Colmore Row
Birmingham
B3 2PW
Fax: 0121 352 5578
If you write to us:
- State clearly what information is required;
- Give your name and an address where we can contact you;
- Tell us in what format you would like to receive the information.
