The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) establishes a general right of access to information held by Public Authorities, subject to certain exemptions. It places a duty on each Public Authority to maintain a Publication Scheme that describes the information the Authority intends to publish and whether the information will be made available free of charge or on payment.

Customer data and holdings information are updated once the Annual Reports and Accounts for the previous year have been audited and published. Data published across our channels reflects information that is correct as of 1 April 2021.

Read more about Freedom of Information on the Information Commissioner's Office website .

The Act does two main things:

  • it gives applicants a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, although there are some procedural and substantive limitations
  • it requires us to adopt a publication scheme which contains information we routinely make available, and ensure that information is published in accordance with the scheme (see Classes of Information below for more details about what information we publish and where it can be found)

How we’ll handle your request

We will provide advice and assistance wherever that would be helpful. We have a statutory obligation to reply within 20 working days. We will tell you whether or not we hold the information requested.

NS&I may charge a fee for processing a Freedom of Information access request, which will be payable in advance. The fee will be calculated in line with the fees regulations. Under the Act, fees may be charged in respect of the time spent efficiently locating or copying records, based on a standard hourly rate. Please see our Schedule Of Charges . No charges will apply in respect of the time spent by NS&I in considering whether information can be released. If a fee is required, the limit of 20 working days will be extended by up to three months until the fee is paid.

 

We will provide the information requested unless:

  • the information is otherwise accessible to you, or
  • to extract the information would take more than three and a half working days – the cost limit under section 12 of the Act, or
  • the information is covered by another absolute exemption under the Act – disclosure would be against the law, or
  • we judge that in all the circumstances it is against the public interest under the Act to disclose it.

If the last judgement is complex, the Act provides for extra time to be taken and we would notify you if that is needed. We will keep you notified of progress where appropriate, and justify any refusal to you.

Requests for information related to environmental matters is likely to be dealt with under the Environmental Information Regulations; these provide very similar rights.

Requests for your own personal data will be dealt with as 'subject access requests’ under the Data Protection Act.

Complaints

If you are dissatisfied with the handling or the outcome of your request, you should write to us within two months of the date of your response from NS&I at the above address, asking the FOI team to conduct an internal review.

In the event that we receive such a complaint, we will ensure a fresh look at the entire case and write to you to explain the outcome. We will also tell you how to take your concerns to the Information Commissioner, if you remain dissatisfied.

Publication Scheme and Classes of Information

Publication Scheme

Under section 19 of the Act all public authorities including government departments such as the NS&I are required to adopt and maintain a Model Publication Scheme.

The Information Commissioner has recognised that, since 2002, structured websites have come to perform much of the function that the Publication Scheme was originally intended to fulfil. For NS&I, our websites are the source of the majority of information covered by the model publication scheme (see links below in the Classes of Information section).

Where information covered by the model publication scheme is not available on the NS&I website, please make a freedom of information request to NS&I.

The model publication scheme defines Classes of Information that Authorities should publish.

View information that NS&I should publish on the Information Commissioner's Office website, which falls into the classes of information below
 

Classes of Information

Who we are and what we do.

Organisational information, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance.
You may find the information you’re looking for in the following places on our website:
- About NS&I
- How we operate
- Who we are
- Contact the media team
- Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21

What we spend and how we spend it.

Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts.
You may find the information you’re looking for in the following places on our website:
- Procurement
- Current performance
- Transparency
- Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21
- Historic annual reports

What our priorities are and how we are doing.

Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews. How we make decisions.
You may find the information you’re looking for in the following places on our website:
- About NS&I
- How we operate
- Our strategy
- Current performance
- Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21

Policy proposals and decisions.

Decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations.
You may find the information you’re looking for in the following places on our website:
- Transparency
- Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21

Our policies and procedures.

Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities.
- Who we are (committees)
- How we operate
- Corporate and Social Responsibility
- Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21

Lists and registers.

Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority.
- Acts and regulations
- How we operate
- Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21

The services we offer.

Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases. A description of the services offered.
- Latest news
- Our products

Re-use of Public Sector Information (ROPSIR) and Copyright notice

Re-use of Public Sector Information (ROPSIR)

What are the ROPSIR regulations?

Under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015 (ROPSIR), we must make information about our core responsibilities and functions accessible and available for re-use unless it is restricted or excluded from disclosure.

In general, any information that has been published will be made available for re-use.

Do I need to make a request for re-use?

You do not need ask permission to re-use any accessible information which the organisation holds the copyright, but you must agree and comply with the terms of the Open Government Licence (OGL).

Where information is not released under the OGL, you will need to request permission for re-use under the ROPSIR regulations.

To do this, make a request through the Freedom of Information team via email or post:

Freedom of Information Unit
NS&I
20 Great Smith Street 
London
SW1P 3BT

Copyright notice

Most information disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act continues to be protected by copyright. You are free to use these documents for your information, including for any non-commercial research you may be doing. Documents can also be used for the purposes of news reporting. Any other re-use, for example commercial publication, would require the permission of the copyright holder. Government officials will have produced most documents published by the Treasury and so the information will be Crown Copyright. Crown Copyright is managed under the Open Government Licence and you can find out details on the arrangements for re-using Crown Copyright on The National Archive website.

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